The US State Department agreed to sell 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia; Final decision with Congress

The US State Department agreed to sell 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia; Final decision with Congress

The US State Department has approved a possible sale of 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia worth $24.3 billion.

The US State Department announced on Friday September 27 that this deal, which still needs congressional approval, will include 49 engines, communications equipment, spare parts and additional support equipment in addition to 48 F-35 Lightning 2 fighter jets.

The sale of the F-35 to Saudi Arabia, if finalized, would be an important shift in America's weapons policy in the Middle East, as Israel is currently the only country in the region that has this stealthy fighter jet.

In reviewing arms sales to Middle Eastern countries, America is obligated to maintain Israel's "qualitative military superiority", in such a way that in practice it must ensure Israel's access to more advanced American weapons than Arab countries in the region. POWs have been using the F-35 for about a decade and have several squadrons of this fighter jet. A possible sale of the same fighter jet to Saudi Arabia could make the way to the implementation of Washington's commitment to maintain the military superiority of the Israeli prisoners one of the main issues of this deal.

Saudi Arabia has been seeking to purchase the F-35 for the modernization of its air force for many years, and in early 2025 it submitted this request directly to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Read the full report on the Radio Farda website.