US Approves Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 Billion
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets and related equipment to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion. The U.S. claims the sale will not disrupt the regional military balance, while Israel had expressed concerns about its own air superiority.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- US State Department approved sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia.
- The deal is worth $24.3 billion and includes engines and equipment.
- US claims the sale will not change the regional military balance.
- Israel had expressed concerns about the sale impacting its air superiority.
- The deal was initially announced by President Trump before meeting MBS.
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at $24.3 billion. The transaction also includes 49 engines, communication equipment, and maintenance parts. The State Department notified Congress of the sale on Thursday, asserting that it will not alter the military balance in the region.
According to the State Department's announcement, the sale aims to enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to deter threats by strengthening its homeland defense and improving cooperation with U.S. forces, other regional partners, and NATO. The notification stated that the proposed sale will increase Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft inventory and bolster its self-defense capabilities in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
The major arms deal was initially announced in November of the previous year by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, just one day before he hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. The announcement at the time raised concerns in Israel, fearing that the sale of advanced fighter jets to other Middle Eastern countries could compromise Israel's qualitative military edge. Israel had also hoped that a deal of this magnitude with Riyadh would be linked to progress toward a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
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