Pentagon wary of Saudi F-35 sale, but Trump likely to sign off on deal

US President Donald Trump is expected to approve a deal allowing Saudi Arabia to acquire dozens of F‑35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets despite serious Pentagon concerns, according to a report from Bloomberg News citing a White House official.   The deal could be signed when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House later in November 2025 to ink economic and defense agreements, the report said.   According to multiple sources, the request by Saudi Arabia to purchase up to 48 F-35 jets had already cleared a major hurdle inside the US Department of Defense.   However, the deal remains far from finalized. The White House has not publicly confirmed the sale, and a Pentagon report cited by the New York Times raises concerns that China could access sensitive F-35 technology if the deal goes through.  The F-35 is among the world’s most advanced fighters, built by Lockheed Martin and operated by the US and a handful of close allies. Analysts say selling it to Saudi Arabia would mark a significant shift in US Middle East policy.  Saudi Arabia has long pursued the F-35 as part of its military modernization under its Vision 2030 blueprint. The kingdom already operates F-15 fighters and other US systems but would gain new stealth and sensor capabilities with the F-35.  Even so, the proposal faces resistance inside the US government. The Pentagon intelligence report noted that Saudi Arabia’s defense links with China and other countries raise concerns about protecting the aircraft’s advanced systems.  Another factor is the US commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region. Allowing Saudi Arabia to acquire a system comparable to Israel’s F-35 fleet could provoke resistance in Congress and from Israeli officials.  The White House also links arms exports to diplomatic goals. One condition reportedly tied to the potential sale is Saudi normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords framework. Some observers say the F-35 deal may hinge on that diplomacy.   The post Pentagon wary of Saudi F-35 sale, but Trump likely to sign off on deal appeared first on AeroTime.

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