President Donald Trump announced that the United States had approved the sale of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, signaling progress in relations between Washington and Riyadh.
This remark came during a speech at an investment event held in Miami on March 28, 2026. According to Trump, this will be the first time a Gulf country will have access to one of the most advanced fighter jets ever built.
The deal has already been discussed since 2025, when U.S. authorities considered selling up to 48 F-35s.
However, this contract must go through official approval processes including the U.S. Congress and the Department of Defense. In addition, complex diplomatic issues remain, including the impact this measure will have on Israel, which has maintained a qualitative military advantage in the Middle East, and tense relations with Iran.
Geopolitically, the sale of the fighter jets is part of a broader strategy of military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, estimated to be worth more than $140 billion.
This measure also aims to check China’s expansion of influence in the Middle East. However, experts say that the immediate impact of this move will be limited as Riyadh is pursuing balanced diplomacy by maintaining relations with both Washington and Beijing.
If the deal goes through, the Saudi Air Force is expected to operate the F-35 to replace its aging Panavia Tornado IDS fighter jets, which will significantly improve its military capabilities. Although the Saudi model does not reach the level of customization as the Israeli model, the technological leap is expected to be significant. These changes come at a time when regional tensions are rising amid a series of missile and drone attacks blamed on Iran, suggesting the possibility that future conflicts will prolong and require more advanced military capabilities.
source: The Aviationist | Photo: This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Trump:
We agreed to sell the F-35 to Saudi Arabia. The F-35 is amazing; we sell them very sparingly—we don’t want other people to have them. pic.twitter.com/s8GvBaXn32
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026
He is mighty and he is also on his way to Iran 😌
Special documentation of the F-35I planes on their way to attack: pic.twitter.com/EKf9tPFmlm
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 15, 2026
