Middle East — 2026-10-19

US State Department Approves Potential $24.3 Billion Saudi F-35 Lightning II Sale

BLUFCongressional disapproval of the Saudi F-35 sale is very unlikely to reach a floor vote by November 30, leaving technology-transfer safeguards to be settled in bilateral negotiation rather than legislative override.

The State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs notified Congress on September 17 of a possible $24.3 billion foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 conventional-takeoff F-35A aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, plus secure communications, electronic warfare database support, training and sustainment 1. The notice states the sale "will not alter the military balance in the region" 1. The Aviationist reported the notice lists no weapons and gives no delivery dates, and that the price is well above the Greek and German F-35 cases of $8.6 billion and $8.4 billion 2. NBC News reported that Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., urged the administration to halt the sale, citing a New York Times report that US intelligence analysts had warned China could obtain F-35 technology through Saudi Arabia 3.

Analysis
Confidence is high, resting on a primary State Department notice and consistent secondary reporting, though the Aero-News Journal piece largely repackages that notice rather than adding independent sourcing. A joint resolution of disapproval blocking the Saudi F-35 sale is very unlikely to receive a floor vote in either the House or Senate by November 30, 2026. The only named critic is a Democratic House member without floor control, and no scheduled vote or leadership commitment is visible. Objections center on China's potential access to F-35 technology and on Israel's qualitative military edge. The notice lists no munitions or delivery dates, so the letter of offer remains to be negotiated, and that will shape later scrutiny. The China alarm may instead open a longer fight in which Senate members demand technology safeguards or conditions before signature, without forcing a vote. If a vote occurs, Lockheed Martin, Saudi planners and the White House must plan for delay or conditions. Otherwise they can proceed to letter-of-offer and technology-security terms.

4 sources

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
U.S. Approves F-35 Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia - The Aviationist
State Department approves $24.3B F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia despite China tech theft concerns - NBC News
US Approves Potential 24.3 Billion Dollar Saudi F-35 Lightning II Package - Aero-News Journal