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Defence
US Considers Selling 48 F‑35 Jets to Saudi Arabia, Raising Israel Concerns
✍️ Times of India
🗓 26 Sep 2026, 05:49 AM
👁 8
The U.S. State Department has informed Congress of a potential sale of 48 F‑35 jets, engines, and support equipment to Saudi Arabia, which would make the kingdom the second Middle Eastern nation to operate the aircraft after Israel. The Saudi variants are expected to lack some of the advanced capabilities of the Israeli F‑35s.
The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of a possible sale of 48 F‑35 jets, including engines and support equipment, to Saudi Arabia. The proposed deal would make the kingdom the second country in the Middle East to operate the advanced fighter after Israel.
According to the notification, the Saudi F‑35s would not be equipped with all of the advanced features that Israeli aircraft possess. This limitation is expected to affect the operational capabilities of the Saudi fleet.
The announcement has drawn concern from Israeli officials, who view the expansion of F‑35 operations in the region as a strategic shift. Analysts suggest that the deal could also influence broader defense dynamics, potentially opening avenues for other powers such as China to engage in the Middle East.
The U.S. government has not yet finalized the sale, and further details are pending congressional review.
According to the notification, the Saudi F‑35s would not be equipped with all of the advanced features that Israeli aircraft possess. This limitation is expected to affect the operational capabilities of the Saudi fleet.
The announcement has drawn concern from Israeli officials, who view the expansion of F‑35 operations in the region as a strategic shift. Analysts suggest that the deal could also influence broader defense dynamics, potentially opening avenues for other powers such as China to engage in the Middle East.
The U.S. government has not yet finalized the sale, and further details are pending congressional review.