US President Donald Trump said he plans to move forward with selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, calling the kingdom a strong ally and confirming that Riyadh wants the aircraft. Speaking in the Oval Office, he told reporters that the US is prepared to supply the jets, and discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman include a possible order of 48 F-35s along with talks about a wider defence partnership.
The F-35, built by Lockheed Martin, is already used or on order by more than 20 countries. Depending on the model, each jet costs between 80 and 110 million dollars. Lockheed Martin produces between 150 and 190 aircraft a year. Trump described the plane as the kind of capability Saudi Arabia is looking for.
The F-35 is widely viewed as one of the most capable warplanes in service. It gathers and shares battlefield data with troops, ships, and other aircraft, while also performing long-range strike missions. It has been used against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria and supported Israel’s strikes on Iran during a short conflict in June. A 2024 Government Accountability Office study has also warned that maintaining the jets over decades will be extremely costly.
Saudi Arabia sees the F-35 as central to strengthening its security at a time when it feels pressured by Iran and regional armed groups. The purchase fits into the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to modernise the economy, attract foreign investment, and build capabilities in technology and AI. Deepening defence ties with the US is also a core part of Riyadh’s strategy.
Despite Saudi Arabia being one of the largest buyers of American weapons, many US national security officials are uneasy about giving Riyadh access to the F-35’s sensitive stealth technology. One major concern comes from the kingdom’s growing security relationship with China. The Defense Intelligence Agency has flagged the risk that Beijing could gain access to F-35 technology if the sale goes through. The US removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 over fears that its purchase of Russia’s S-400 system could expose the jet’s secrets. Similar worries now centre on China.
Another issue involves Israel’s military advantage. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country currently flying F-35s, and US law requires Washington to protect Israel’s qualitative military edge. Some officials believe an F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could undermine that advantage.
The Trump administration had been hoping to make progress on a deal to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, something Israel has long wanted. The Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 and the Gaza conflict that followed have largely halted those efforts. Some Republican lawmakers say they will only support an F-35 sale if Saudi Arabia agrees to normalise ties with Israel. Even if the administration approves the deal, Congress can still block it, though historically lawmakers have found it difficult to stop major arms sales.
Former Israel Air Force chief Eitan Ben Eliyahu said a Saudi F-35 purchase would shift the region’s balance of power, but added that it would take at least four years for the kingdom to receive the jets. He suggested that Israel could acquire newer systems in the meantime to maintain its edge.
