F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia cleared after years of to and fro between Washington and Riyadh

F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia cleared after years of to and fro between Washington and Riyadh Washington has approved the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This significant deal includes aircraft, engines, and extensive support packages. The United States stated the sale would not alter the regional military balance. Saudi Arabia has pushed for these jets due to recent air defense vulnerabilities. This move follows other major arms purchases by Riyadh this year. After years of hesitation, Washington has finally moved to sell Saudi Arabia the F-35, its most advanced stealth fighter, ending a saga that has dragged on for years amid concerns over transferring the aircraft to a West Asian power may dilute Israel's aerial dominance vis-a-vis its neighbours. The US State Department cleared the potential Foreign Military Sale of up to 48 F-35A Lightning II jets to Riyadh, in a deal valued at USD 24.3 billion, notified to Congress on Thursday.The package goes well beyond the aircraft itself. It includes 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, one per aircraft plus a spare, alongside secure communications and navigation systems, cryptographic equipment, electronic warfare support, spare parts, simulators, training and extensive logistics support. The State Department said the sale would strengthen the defences of a major non-NATO ally and improve interoperability with US, regional and NATO forces, while explicitly stating it would not alter the existing military balance in the region, a clear nod to longstanding Israeli objections, since Israel remains the only Middle Eastern nation currently operating the F-35.The deal was cleared just days after Yemen's Houthi movement claimed to have shot down a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 over Marib governorate on September 16. End of Article