US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F

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Published: 2026-09-18T06:47:15.065Z • Permanent link

US officials announced on Thursday that the Department of State had approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia. This deal is significant, as it marks the first time the US has sold the highly advanced fighter jet to a Middle Eastern country. The sale is expected to be finalized in the coming months, pending approval from the US Congress. Saudi Arabia has been a key partner in the global fight against terrorism, and the F-35s are seen as a crucial component of its military modernization efforts.

Details of the deal are still sketchy, but it is believed that the US government has been working with Saudi Arabia for several years to finalize the sale. The F-35 program is a highly complex and competitive process, involving multiple countries and organizations. The plane is produced by Lockheed Martin, a US-based defense contractor, and is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Saudi Arabia has been a key player in the global arms market, and the F-35 sale is seen as a major coup for the company.

The approval of the sale has been met with mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Some have welcomed the deal as a significant boost to Saudi Arabia's military capabilities, while others have expressed concerns about the implications of the sale. The US has long been a key partner in Saudi Arabia's military modernization efforts, and the F-35s are seen as a crucial component of its air force. However, the sale has also raised concerns about the potential risks of the advanced technology falling into the wrong hands.

The approval of the $24.3 billion sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia has significant implications for the global arms market. The deal is expected to have a major impact on the market for advanced fighter jets, and could potentially disrupt the balance of power in the region. The sale also raises concerns about the potential risks of the advanced technology falling into the wrong hands, and the potential for instability in the region. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman are all major players in the global arms market, and the sale of the F-35s could have a significant impact on their business.

The deal also has significant implications for the research community, particularly those studying the global arms market and the implications of advanced technology. Researchers at institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have long been studying the implications of the F-35 program, and the sale to Saudi Arabia is seen as a major development in the field. The deal could also have significant implications for markets such as the Middle East, where the F-35s are seen as a crucial component of regional security.

The approval of the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia is part of a larger pattern of cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia on military modernization efforts. The two countries have a long-standing relationship, and have cooperated on a range of military projects, including the development of a joint air defense system. However, the sale of the F-35s has also raised concerns about the potential risks of the advanced technology falling into the wrong hands, and the potential for instability in the region.