The United States has approved a potential sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia worth $24.3bn. The State Department published the relevant notice on 17 August, dpa inernational reports.
The deal would include not only the aircraft themselves but also related equipment. The State Department believes the sale will help advance US foreign policy and security objectives by enhancing the security of a “major non-NATO ally”.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and related services will not alter the military balance in the region,” it added.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in the United States said the proposed sale reflects the “strength and enduring nature” of the Saudi-US strategic partnership and the continued development of defence co-operation between the two countries.
In November, ahead of a visit to Washington by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, US President Donald Trump said the United States was ready to sell the fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. For now, Israel is the only Middle Eastern country that has F-35 fighter jets.
The F-35 is currently the most advanced fighter aircraft. The German military has purchased them as part of so-called nuclear sharing — NATO’s deterrence concept under which allies have access to US nuclear bombs. Thanks to its distinctive shape and exterior coating, the aircraft is difficult for enemy radar to detect. The F-35A variant is the most widely used. It is in service with the US Air Force and allies in the Alliance.
The F-35B variant lands vertically like a helicopter and can take off from very short distances, allowing it to operate from austere bases with short runways and from various ships capable of handling aircraft. The F-35B is operated by the US Marine Corps, the United Kingdom and the Italian Air Force.
The F-35C is the Navy’s first low-observable fighter and the world’s only fifth-generation strike fighter with stealth technology and long range. It was designed and built specifically for carrier operations. The F-35C is operated only by the US Department of the Navy.