Washington indicators the need for a quick approval of a Saudi F-35 sale, reflecting a renewed effort for faster weapons gross sales and the brand new U.S.-Saudi Strategic Protection Settlement.
The prospect of Saudi Arabia changing into the following Center Jap operator of the F-35 Lightning II seems to have accelerated sharply following a sequence of high-profile statements from U.S. President Donald Trump and the signing of a brand new U.S.–Saudi Strategic Protection Settlement. Whereas the dominion has pursued the stealth plane for years, to date the acquisition by no means grew to become actuality due to varied causes.
Nevertheless, the newest developments are a transparent indication that Washington has modified route and is now able to authorize a sale that might reshape the Center East’s steadiness of airpower. That’s particularly notable as relations between the 2 nations had some highs and lows lately.
Talking within the Oval Workplace and later at a convention in Washington on Nov. 19, 2025, Trump mentioned he expects the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia to proceed quickly by the Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) system. In keeping with Air and Area Forces Journal, Trump framed the approval as all however sure, telling Saudi officers that the method would transfer “in a short time” and predicting a turnaround of “about 24 hours,” regardless of the formal steps required beneath U.S. regulation.
“We will likely be doing that, we’ll be promoting F-35s. They need to purchase them, they’ve been an important ally.”
— President Donald Trump
Trump had first signaled his intent few days earlier, on Nov. 17, forward of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s go to to Washington. The next day, the 2 leaders met on the White Home to debate protection cooperation, superior expertise, and broader funding commitments.
“I’m happy to announce that we’re taking our navy cooperation to even larger heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a serious non-NATO ally.”
— President Donald Trump
Strategic Protection Settlement
As reported by Breaking Protection, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Protection Settlement (SDA) on Nov. 18, which included U.S. authorization for each the F-35 sale and the acquisition of almost 300 M1 Abrams tanks. The White Home referred to as the SDA “a win for the America First agenda,” highlighting each industrial advantages for the U.S. protection sector and Saudi Arabia’s dedication to deeper safety cooperation between the 2 nations.
“The U.S.-Saudi Strategic Protection Settlement is a historic settlement that strengthens our greater than 80-year protection partnership and fortifies deterrence throughout the Center East.”
— White Home Assertion
Whereas the variety of F-35s was not formally disclosed, a number of sources point out that Saudi Arabia is searching for a fleet of as much as 48 plane. Such a bundle could possibly be valued between $5.3 and $5.7 billion, excluding munitions and logistics assist, in response to early estimates cited by Air and Area Forces Journal.
Unmanned property are additionally an enormous a part of the settlement as, along with the F-35 and Abrams offers, Saudi Arabia is reportedly in discussions to amass as much as 130 MQ-9B drones and 200 Gambit loyal wingman programs from Basic Atomics Aeronautical Programs, in response to feedback given to Breaking Protection by firm’s officers.
Israel’s Qualitative Navy Edge
Regardless of the keenness from each Washington and Riyadh, the proposed F-35 sale faces the hurdle of U.S. authorized obligations to protect Israel’s qualitative navy edge (QME) within the area. Actually, Congress amended the Arms Export Management Act in 2008 to require that any Center Jap arms sale not erode Israel’s potential to take care of a technological and operational benefit.
Right here is the definition supplied by the Public Legislation 110-429:
“The time period ‘qualitative navy edge’ means the power to counter and defeat any credible standard navy risk from any particular person state or potential coalition of states or from non-state actors, whereas sustaining minimal damages and casualties, by using superior navy means, possessed in enough amount, together with weapons, command, management, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that of their technical traits are superior in functionality to these of such different particular person or potential coalition of states or non-state actors.”
Israel has traditionally opposed the export of the F-35 to Arab states. Israeli media reported that the Israeli Air Pressure has already raised considerations, producing a white paper warning that Saudi Arabia’s acquisition might “erode or considerably degrade” its QME. Israel equally objected to F-35 gross sales to the UAE and to Turkey up to now.
Talking alongside Mohammed bin Salman within the Oval Workplace, Trump dismissed considerations that the Saudi plane can be downgraded in comparison with Israeli F-35I Adirs. Addressing each side, he mentioned each nations ought to get “prime of the road.”
“This can be a nice ally, and Israel’s an important ally, and I do know they’d such as you to get planes of lowered caliber. I don’t suppose that makes you too completely satisfied. We‘re that precisely proper now, however so far as I’m involved, I believe they’re each on the degree the place they need to get prime of the road.”
— President Donald Trump
“I do know they’d such as you to get planes of lowered caliber. I don’t suppose that makes you too completely satisfied… So far as I’m involved, I believe they’re each on the degree the place they need to get prime of the road.”
Nevertheless, business officers cited by Air and Area Forces Journal famous that modifications to Saudi plane stay a chance, together with tailor-made mission-data preparations or software program variations. Israel enjoys distinctive entry to the F-35 program, together with authority to combine home programs and weapons, with a degree of customization unmatched by another operator.
Safety Considerations resulting from Chinese language Programs
One other issue complicating the potential sale includes Saudi Arabia’s use of Chinese language-made navy programs. Each Air and Area Forces Journal and Protection Information highlighted long-standing U.S. considerations concerning the presence not solely of overseas radars, but additionally of Chinese language personnel in Saudi Arabia, which compromise delicate applied sciences of the F-35.
Related considerations led to Turkey’s being ejected from the F-35 program in 2019 resulting from its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air protection system. The acquisition triggered the Countering America’s Adversaries By Sanctions Act (CAATSA), and the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA) immediately nonetheless blocks the supply of F-35s until the S-400 subject is resolved.
Saudi Arabia presently operates Chinese language radars and ballistic missile programs, and Air and Area Forces Journal experiences that Chinese language technicians are current within the kingdom to assist these property. Whereas the programs in query are primarily optimized for counter-UAS roles, Washington stays cautious of any overseas radar with energetic electronically scanned array (AESA) capabilities close to F-35 infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s Modernization
The Royal Saudi Air Pressure (RSAF) operates one of many area’s most trendy and succesful fighter inventories. In keeping with World Air Forces 2025, as of December 2024, the stock included 232 F-15s (of which 84 are the brand new F-15SAs), 72 Eurofighter Typhoons and 81 Twister IDS jets, about to be phased out.
The Twister’s substitute has lengthy formed Riyadh’s procurement plans. Saudi negotiated for 48 extra Typhoons, though the deal was repeatedly blocked by Germany till 2024. The nation additionally had talks with France for Dassault Rafales, whereas Boeing has supplied the F-15EX Eagle II.
Ought to Riyadh purchase the F-35, Israel would now not have the monopoly on low-observable fight plane within the area, because it has since 2016. As the identical time, the F-35 would characterize a leap in capabilities, particularly when countering Iran and its proxies.
Dashing Up the FMS Pipeline vs Politics
A recurring theme in Trump’s remarks, additionally echoed by Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, is the push to drastically speed up the FMS course of. As reported by Air and Area Forces Journal, Hegseth lately unveiled reforms that shift arms sale approvals from the Pentagon’s coverage workers to its acquisition directorates, with the specific purpose of “dashing weapons gross sales to overseas governments.”
The timeline for a potential supply of F-35s to Saudi Arabia is but unclear. Nevertheless, with the U.S. Air Pressure slowing down its personal F-35 procurement charges, Saudi Arabia and different clients might obtain jets quicker.
Nevertheless, whereas the FMS course of may pace up, the political approval could be slower. Previously, Washington refused to export the F-35 to Arab nations because of the mixture of QME necessities, considerations over expertise safety, and the political sensitivities surrounding diplomatic relations.
Due to this, Congress is more likely to totally scrutinize the transaction, particularly given earlier objections tied to human rights points and Saudi Arabia’s navy actions in Yemen. Actually, The Warfare Zone famous that lawmakers had beforehand moved to dam arms transfers to Riyadh following the Khashoggi killing and rising civilian casualty considerations.
On the similar time, the SDA and increasing protection cooperation seem to level to a extra strategic realignment. Thus, with the political momentum on the highest degree of the U.S. administration, the Saudi push for the F-35 may lastly undergo with shorter delays.
