The State Department has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines and related support equipment to Saudi Arabia, subject to congressional approval. The department said the transfer would strengthen a major U.S. ally and support Gulf stability and economic progress. Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington welcomed the proposal as an advance in bilateral defense cooperation. The transaction follows President Donald Trump's November 2025 announcement of plans to sell F-35s to Riyadh and would make Saudi Arabia the second Middle Eastern F-35 operator after Israel if completed. Israeli officials have indicated they would not object if Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, while U.S. lawmakers have examined concerns over Israel's qualitative military edge and Saudi technology ties with China.