WASHINGTON — The United States has approved to sell American-made F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump announced, marking an important step toward adding one of the world's most advanced aircraft to the Kingdom's defense capabilities. The decision—revealed one day before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's scheduled arrival in Washington—would make the Kingdom the 21st nation to operate the world's most advanced multirole combat aircraft, signaling a deepening strategic alignment between Riyadh and Washington. If completed, the deal would place Saudi Arabia alongside countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Japan, Poland, Romania, South Korea, and Switzerland —all of which have incorporated the F-35 into long-term military modernization plans. Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is widely regarded as the most technologically sophisticated fighter jet in service. Its appeal stems from a combination of advanced stealth, powerful sensing capabilities, and network-centric operations. At the heart of the aircraft's advantage is its low-observable design, optimized to evade detection in heavily defended airspace. Its sensor-fusion suite integrates data from the AESA radar, Distributed Aperture System, and Electro-Optical Targeting System, giving pilots a unified and highly detailed real-time picture of the battlespace. The F-35 also carries advanced electronic-warfare systems capable of jamming radars, disrupting enemy networks, and conducting electronic attacks, while simultaneously protecting itself and supporting allied aircraft. Its secure communications and data-sharing abilities allow it to function as a digital command node linking air, land, and naval assets—an increasingly central concept in modern warfare. For Saudi Arabia, the F-35 would mark a significant step forward from its current fleet of F-15SA fighters, Eurofighter Typhoons, and older Tornado aircraft. The platform's stealth and sensor capabilities would provide the Kingdom with an operational edge. Access to the F-35 is reserved for Washington's closest security partners. Extending the aircraft to Saudi Arabia would signal a renewed level of trust and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
