US State Department approves possible F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia covering up to 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters, with an estimated total cost of $24.3 billion.

The approval follows years of talks between the two countries over the acquisition of fifth-generation fighter capability, and it marks a possible shift in US policy. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE had been negotiating to buy the F-35, but Washington had previously appeared unwilling to authorise either sale.

The notification includes a spare engine and a list of non-Major Defense Equipment items, among them secure communications, spare parts, test devices and other support equipment. No weapons were named in the notification, though the source notes they may have been omitted or may be pending a separate approval.

The figure is notably higher than other F-35 sales of comparable size. Greece's sale of 42 aircraft is valued at $8.6 billion, while Germany's sale of 35 aircraft is valued at $8.4 billion. An earlier proposal for 48 aircraft was valued at between $5.3 billion and $5.7 billion, excluding munitions and logistics support, which the source says leaves open the possibility that additional equipment driving up the cost was not listed publicly.