Pentagon Greenlights Key Step in Saudi Arabia's Pursuit of F-35 Fighter Jets

WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (Reuters) – In a move that could reshape military dynamics in the Middle East, the Trump administration is contemplating a request from Saudi Arabia to purchase up to 48 F-35 fighter jets. This substantial deal, potentially worth billions, has recently overcome a significant hurdle at the Pentagon, coinciding with an impending visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to two insiders familiar with the proceedings.

This prospective sale would mark a notable policy shift, potentially impacting the military equilibrium in the region and challenging the United States’ longstanding commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the area.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia directly appealed to President Donald Trump, expressing their long-standing interest in acquiring the F-35 jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin, as revealed by a knowledgeable source and a U.S. official. The Pentagon is currently evaluating the sale of 48 of these advanced aircraft, the insider and the official confirmed to Reuters. Until now, the scale of the request and its current status had not been disclosed.

Although the deal is progressing, two U.S. officials indicated that a final decision remains pending, requiring several additional steps. These include higher-level approvals within the Cabinet, a green light from President Trump, and formal notification to Congress.

For months, the Pentagon’s policy department has been diligently working on this potential transaction. According to one official, who spoke under anonymity, the proposal has now reached the secretary level within the Defense Department, signaling an advanced stage in the decision-making process.

The Pentagon, White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said military sales are government-to-government transactions and the matter is best addressed by Washington.

The US approach to weapons sales

Washington weighs weapons sales to the Middle East in a way that ensures Israel maintains a “qualitative military edge”. This guarantees that Israel gets more advanced U.S. weapons than regional Arab states.

The F-35, built with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy detection, is considered the world’s most advanced fighter jet. Israel has operated the aircraft for nearly a decade, building multiple squadrons, and remains the only Middle Eastern country to possess the weapons system.

Saudi Arabia, the largest customer for U.S. arms, has sought the fighter for years as it looks to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran. The kingdom’s renewed push for what would constitute two squadrons comes as the Trump administration has signaled openness to deepening defense cooperation with Riyadh. The Saudi Air Force flies a mix of fighter aircraft including Boeing BA.N F-15s, European Tornados and Typhoons.

F-35 sales have been considered before

The F-35 issue has also been intertwined with broader diplomatic efforts. The Biden administration previously explored providing F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a comprehensive deal that would have included Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, though those efforts ultimately stalled.

Trump has made arms sales to Saudi Arabia a priority since returning to office. In May, the United States agreed to sell the kingdom an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, which the White House called “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done.

Congressional scrutiny could also pose challenges to any F-35 sale. Lawmakers previously questioned arms deals with Riyadh following the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some members of Congress remain wary of deepening military cooperation with the kingdom.

The potential sale also comes as Saudi Arabia pursues ambitious economic and military modernization plans under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda. The kingdom has sought to diversify its defense partnerships in recent years while maintaining its decades-long security relationship with Washington.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Lisa Shumaker)

Pentagon Greenlights Key Step in Saudi Arabia’s Pursuit of F-35 Fighter Jets

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