The U.S. government has approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia valued at $24.3 billion, equivalent to over 800 billion baht. This decision comes amid concerns from Israel and some members of the U.S. Congress about the military balance in the Middle East and the risk that critical technology could be leaked to China.
The U.S. State Department announced that it has approved the sale of 48 stealth F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, worth $24.3 billion, or more than 800 billion baht. This represents Saudi Arabia's largest recent arms purchase since the start of the Iran war.
The agreement still requires review and approval by the U.S. Congress, which has 30 days to examine or attempt to block the deal. However, the State Department has not specified a timeline for the delivery of the aircraft.
Saudi Arabia has been trying for several years to acquire the F-35, a stealth fighter capable of evading enemy detection. Israel, currently the only Middle Eastern country operating the F-35, has expressed concerns about the sale to Saudi Arabia despite efforts to encourage diplomatic normalization between the two countries.
The U.S. State Department stated that the deal will enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to deter current and future threats, strengthen national defense, and improve interoperability with the U.S. military. It will also boost the combat capabilities of the Saudi air fleet, including self-defense in air combat and ground target strikes.
The State Department confirmed that this arms sale will not alter the military balance in the region, consistent with the U.S. long-term policy that Israel must maintain a military edge over potential regional adversaries.
The U.S. has previously allowed F-35 sales mainly to close allies, including NATO member countries in Europe and Israel. In 2019, the U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 program after Turkey purchased Russian air defense systems over concerns that Russia might access the aircraft's technology.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is concerned about the possibility that China could access key F-35 technology through security cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The New York Times reported this week that U.S. intelligence analysts have noted the potential for China to acquire F-35 technology via its partnership with Riyadh.
U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat and member of the House Intelligence Committee, opposed the sale, stating the deal should not proceed while U.S. intelligence warns that America’s most critical military technologies could fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.
Other Democratic members of Congress and some U.S. defense officials have expressed similar concerns, fearing that Saudi Arabia might share sensitive technology with China under their security cooperation.
Saudi Arabia has been targeted multiple times by drone and missile attacks from Iranian-backed forces since the U.S. and Israel launched their conflict with Iran in February. Additionally, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also attacked Saudi Arabia.
The long-dormant Yemeni civil war reignited in July after clashes between the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Yemeni government supported by Saudi Arabia. The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and attacked ships in the Red Sea.
This F-35 sale represents Saudi Arabia’s largest arms purchase this year. Earlier in September, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of over 10,000 bombs worth $5 billion to Saudi Arabia, including 2,000-pound high-yield bombs.
Additionally, in the same month, the U.S. approved the sale of 60 tank engines and related equipment to Saudi Arabia worth $750 million, as well as a $1.96 billion deal in July for the purchase of guidance kits that convert rockets into precision-guided munitions.
The F-35 jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, cost approximately $82.5 million each for the F-35A model. If the deal for 48 jets is approved and executed, Saudi Arabia will have a fleet size close to Israel’s, which currently operates about 50 F-35s. However, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced in May plans to purchase an additional squadron of F-35s, potentially increasing its total fleet to 100 jets.
SourceBBC/ AFP