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The United States has approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, in a massive deal amid the war in the Middle East, making the Kingdom the first country in the region after Israel to obtain these advanced stealth aircraft.
The U.S. State Department said it has approved the sale of 48 F-35 aircraft and related equipment to Riyadh, in a deal estimated at $24.3 billion.
The State Department said in a statement that "the proposed sale will enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ability to deter current and future threats, by strengthening its defense of its territory, and improving interoperability with U.S. forces"
It added that it "will also strengthen the fleet of aircraft operated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and improve its self-defense capabilities in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat"
The State Department notified Congress of the proposed deal, which requires the approval of U.S. lawmakers. The Ministry did not specify the time frame for the delivery of these aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin, to Riyadh.
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