The US State Department has approved the sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at approximately $24 billion, The Zioneer reports. The approval, initially reported Thursday, marks a significant expansion of Riyadh's stealth capabilities within a broader defense package.
The US State Department has officially approved the $24 billion sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, finalizing a major defense package that was first reported by The Zioneer on Thursday evening. The approval, announced at 20:43 Jerusalem time, marks the culmination of a rapid sequence of reports and confirmations throughout Thursday.
As The Zioneer reported at 20:43 Jerusalem on Thursday, the State Department cleared the sale. Minutes later, Barak Ravid (N12) confirmed the decision as part of a broader defense package. Subsequent updates from The Zioneer detailed the package's value at $24.3 billion, including 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications gear, and spare parts, with the State Department stating the sale "will not alter the military balance in the region." The Zioneer also reported that the aircraft would be delivered without certain unspecified components. Later Thursday evening, the Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the deal on X/Twitter, calling it an "advancement of defense cooperation." The Eye on Zion briefing earlier today (Friday, 08:18 Jerusalem) highlighted the strategic significance of the Saudi welcome.
The F-35 sale is the centerpiece of a series of US defense approvals for Gulf allies, including precision missile systems for Saudi Arabia and aerial refueling aircraft for Qatar and Kuwait, as The Zioneer has previously reported. For Israel, the strengthening of Saudi aerial capabilities within the American orbit remains a critical component of regional stability, though the deal has been coordinated with Israeli security concerns regarding qualitative military edge.
No further details have been released on delivery timelines, specific aircraft configuration, or which components are withheld from the sale.
5 developments
- DevelopingUS approved $2 billion precision missile system sale to Saudi Arabia, according to reports
- StrongUS approves $4.5 billion sale of KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft to Qatar
- ConfirmedUS approves sale of engines for Turkish fighter jets, worth hundreds of millions
- DevelopingUS approves sale of 5,250 interceptor missiles to four Gulf states
Source and signal
- Open-source intake