Saudi bid for F-35 jets gets Pentagon approval

The Donald Trump administration is considering a request from Saudi Arabia to purchase up to 48 F-35 fighter jets, and the deal — worth several billion dollars — has passed an important Pentagon approval stage, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

If approved, the sale would represent a major policy shift, potentially reshaping the military balance in the Middle East and challenging Washington's long-standing commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge.”

Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal earlier this year to US President Donald Trump and has long been interested in Lockheed Martin's fighter, one of the people and a US official said.

The Pentagon is now weighing a potential sale of 48 of the advanced aircraft, the US official and the person familiar with the talks told Reuters. The size of the request and its status have not been previously reported.

The US official and a second US official, who acknowledged the weapons deal was moving through the system, said no final decision has been made and several more steps are needed before the ultimate nod, including further approvals at the Cabinet level, sign-off from Trump and notification of Congress.

The Pentagon's policy department worked on the potential transaction for months, and the case has now progressed to the secretary level within the Defence Department, according to one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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.

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 US weapons than the 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 US arms, has sought the fighter for years as it looks to modernise 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 signalled openness to deepening defence cooperation with Riyadh. The Saudi Air Force flies a mix of fighter aircraft, including Boeing F-15s, European Tornados, and Typhoons.