The United States has approved the potential sale of 48 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at an estimated $24.3 billion, marking a major step in defense cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.

The U.S. State Department announced that it had approved the proposed Foreign Military Sale and notified Congress, which will now review the package before the transaction can move forward.

According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the package includes 48 F-35A aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, communications systems, mission support equipment, training, spare parts, logistics support and other related services.

The State Department said the proposed sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia's ability to address current and future security threats while enhancing interoperability with U.S. forces and other allies. It added that the deal supports U.S. foreign policy objectives and would not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Congress to review the deal

Under U.S. law, Congress has the authority to review major foreign arms sales before they are finalized.

Although Saudi Arabia is one of Washington's closest security partners in the Middle East, previous arms sales have faced opposition from some lawmakers over human rights concerns, particularly following the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

If Congress does not block the proposal during the review period, the United States and Saudi Arabia will be able to proceed with negotiations on the final contract.

Riyadh's long-standing request

Saudi Arabia has sought to acquire the F-35 for several years as part of its efforts to modernize the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The issue was also discussed during former President Joe Biden's administration as part of broader negotiations that included the possibility of Saudi normalization with the Israel regime, although those talks did not result in an agreement.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has placed renewed emphasis on expanding defense cooperation with Riyadh. Earlier this year, Washington announced a defense package worth approximately $142 billion, describing it as the largest defense cooperation agreement in U.S. history.

Regional significance

If the sale is completed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to operate the F-35 and only the second operator in the Middle East after the Israel regime.

The proposed transfer is considered significant because Washington has traditionally sought to preserve the Israel regime's Qualitative Military Edge (QME) when approving advanced weapons sales in the region.

Saudi Arabia has argued that acquiring the fifth-generation fighter is essential to strengthening its defense capabilities amid growing regional security challenges.

The Royal Saudi Air Force currently operates U.S.-made F-15 fighter jets alongside Eurofighter Typhoon and Panavia Tornado aircraft.

The proposed sale remains subject to congressional review before any final agreement is signed.(ILKHA)