Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, signaling a major potential shift in U.S. arms export policy.
The proposed sale reportedly faces significant opposition from the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence officials, who have expressed concerns about protecting sensitive F-35 technology given Saudi Arabia's relationships with other global powers. Those officials worry that vulnerabilities could lead to compromise of advanced capabilities.
The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is currently restricted in the region to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge. A sale to Riyadh would be a high-value contract for U.S. defense exporters but would likely trigger a lengthy review and congressional notification process. Sources say even if approved, deliveries would take several years—estimates range from about five to eight years—delaying any immediate operational impact.
The announcement comes amid broader diplomatic discussions in the region, including talks related to security arrangements and normalization efforts. Past efforts to sell F-35s to Gulf partners, such as the United Arab Emirates, have stalled over similar technology-security concerns.
Lockheed Martin declined to comment on the potential transaction. Observers note that while such a sale would boost U.S. defense exports, it would also require strict safeguards and assurances to address national security objections.
Correction: An earlier version of this summary misstated the finality of a previously pursued F-35 sale to the UAE; that deal was pursued but not finalized.