Saudi Arabia to Get 48 F-35s: US Clears $24.3 Billion Deal
Quick take: The U.S. State Department notified Congress on September 17, 2026 that it has approved a possible sale of up to 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters and 49 F135 engines to Saudi Arabia, in a package valued at up to $24.3 billion. It would be the first F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, pending a 30-day congressional review period.
What the deal covers
The State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia covering up to 48 F-35A multirole fighters and 49 F135 engines — 48 installed plus one spare. The package also includes cryptographic equipment, electronic warfare support, training and logistics support. With support equipment and services included, the total value could reach $24.3 billion.
The notification is a mandatory step under the Arms Export Control Act. Unless Congress objects within 30 days, the sale can move toward a formal contract. Congress has rarely succeeded in blocking a major arms sale once the executive branch has cleared it.
Why it matters: the Gulf’s first F-35 and the regional balance
This would mark the first approved F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia. Until now, Israel has been the only regional operator of a fifth-generation fighter, having received F-35I Adir jets since 2020. U.S. law requires that arms sales in the region preserve Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) — the same principle that delayed the UAE’s proposed F-35 purchase for years after it was first floated in 2020. Saudi Arabia’s approval puts that balancing act back in the spotlight.
For Turkey, the comparison is hard to miss: Ankara was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring the Russian S-400 air defense system, and has since focused on its own fifth-generation fighter, KAAN. A Gulf state now clearing this bar — while Turkey remains outside the program — sharpens the contrast in how Washington manages access to the aircraft among its regional partners.
What happens next
A congressional notification is not a finished sale — it is the start of the formal approval process. If Congress does not object, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government would need to sign a detailed Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), after which Lockheed Martin would set a production and delivery schedule. Given how booked the F-35 production line already is, initial deliveries would likely stretch out over several years.
Saudi Arabia’s air force currently relies on Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15SA fleets. Adding the F-35A would give the kingdom a low-observable capability it currently lacks, and Riyadh is framing the move as another sign of its deepening strategic partnership with Washington.
A short history of Gulf F-35 talks
The idea of selling F-35s in the Gulf is not new. The UAE reached an understanding with Washington in 2020 for a $23 billion F-35 and drone package following its normalization deal with Israel, but that agreement stalled for years over technology-security and QME concerns. Saudi Arabia’s process carries similar sensitivities, but Riyadh’s deepening defense and energy ties with Washington appear to be moving this case faster than the UAE precedent.
If finalized, the deal could accelerate similar requests from other Gulf states such as Qatar and the UAE, pointing to a broader reshaping of the region’s air power balance over the medium term.
At a glance
| Platform | F-35A Lightning II (conventional takeoff/landing) |
| Quantity | Up to 48 aircraft |
| Engines | 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 (48 installed + 1 spare) |
| Deal value | Up to $24.3 billion |
| Stage | Congressional notification (30-day review) |
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft,” September 17, 2026 — used for the official notification text.
- Breaking Defense, “US clears $24B F-35 sale for Saudi Arabia,” September 17, 2026 — used for context and analysis.
- U.S. News & World Report, “US Clears Way for $24.3 Billion Fighter Jet Sale to Saudi Arabia,” September 17, 2026 — used to confirm figures.
