The US State Department’s announcement on Thursday that it is advancing the sale of 48 F-35 aircraft to Saudi Arabia represents far more than a massive arms deal worth $24.3 billion. For Israel, it highlights a concerning diplomatic shift: one of Washington’s most valuable security leverage tools with Riyadh is now moving forward on its own track, without Saudi Arabia first being required to normalize relations with Israel.
The State Department approved the possible sale of 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft, alongside 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, communications and encryption systems, electronic warfare capabilities, simulators, training, spare parts and logistical support.
The move does not yet constitute a final contract. The announcement is a stage in the US arms sale process, and a legally required review period in Congress has now begun. In Saudi Arabia’s case, the official review period is 30 days.
The administration is presenting the deal as part of efforts to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to confront current and future threats and deepen its joint operational capabilities with the United States and regional partners. The official announcement explicitly stated that the deal “will not alter the military balance in the region.”
In the United States, Israel’s qualitative military edge is enshrined in law. The statement touches on the core of Israel’s concern: Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East operating the F-35, in its Israeli configuration, the F-35I “Adir.”
US law requires the administration to ensure that arms sales to other countries in the region do not harm Israel’s “Qualitative Military Edge,” meaning its qualitative military advantage. The requirement was codified in legislation in 2008 and requires significant regional arms deals to be examined through the Israeli security lens as well.
The political price Israel sought for the F-35 deal
The Trump administration approved the sale of advanced F-35 aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Israel sought a diplomatic price.
However, Jerusalem’s concern is not only technical or related to air capabilities. In November 2025, Israeli officials said that Israel did not fundamentally oppose Saudi Arabia receiving F-35 aircraft, provided the deal was part of full normalization between Riyadh and Jerusalem.
“We told the Trump administration that supplying F-35s to Saudi Arabia should be contingent on Saudi normalization with Israel,” an Israeli official said at the time.
Another Israeli official warned that providing the aircraft to Riyadh without receiving diplomatic concessions would be a “mistake” and a move that would work against US interests.
That link did not materialize. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said during his visit to the White House last year that he was interested in Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, but conditioned progress on the creation of a “clear path” toward a two-state solution.
The gap between Riyadh and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on the Palestinian issue has remained. Despite that, the F-35 track continued to advance.
This is the central difference between the deal Israel hoped to see and the deal as it currently appears: Jerusalem wanted the stealth aircraft as part of a broader regional strategic package centered on normalization. Washington, at least at this stage, is not waiting for such an agreement before moving ahead.
China concerns surrounding the Saudi F-35 sale
Jonathan Ruhe, a specialist in US strategy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), told Walla that in his view, the F-35 deal should not move forward in its current form before two central issues are resolved.
The concern is not merely theoretical. The New York Times reported two days ago that US intelligence officials warned in internal assessments that China could obtain F-35-related technology through espionage in Saudi Arabia or through its security and technology ties with the kingdom.
One report by the Pentagon’s intelligence agency addressed, among other issues, Chinese access to Saudi bases and Saudi use of Chinese communications infrastructure. Reports on Thursday’s deal also noted that expanding security ties between Riyadh and Beijing are among the concerns surrounding the sale.
Ruhe’s second concern directly relates to Israel.
“The entire F-35 program is intended to support US-led collective defense,” he said. “America needs to demonstrate leadership in integrating Saudi Arabia into a new regional security architecture, and Riyadh also needs to show that it is a committed partner before it can receive F-35 aircraft.”
According to Ruhe, Israel’s qualitative military edge must remain part of the equation.
“Israel’s QME is a central factor in this regional integration, and it needs to be reflected in any possible F-35 deal with the kingdom,” he said.
Ruhe added that the United States has significant leverage in the matter.
“The United States has leverage here, because it can offer Saudi Arabia much more than China can,” he said.
Even if the deal is completed, a significant question remains over the exact capabilities that will be transferred to Riyadh.
The aircraft intended for Saudi Arabia are expected to be less advanced in several areas than Israel’s F-35I aircraft, partly as part of the US effort to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge. Israel also benefits from the ability to integrate unique Israeli systems into its aircraft.
The issue became more complicated after US President Donald Trump publicly said that Saudi Arabia would receive advanced aircraft similar to Israel’s. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured Netanyahu and told him that Saudi Arabia would receive a downgraded version and that the United States remained committed to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge.
Therefore, even after the State Department announcement and assurances regarding reduced capabilities for Saudi Arabia, key details remain undisclosed: which capabilities will be included in the aircraft, what restrictions will be placed on their deployment and access, and what Israel will receive to ensure that its advantage is maintained.
But on the diplomatic level, a significant development has already taken place: the F-35, which Israel wanted to see as part of the price Saudi Arabia would pay for joining the Abraham Accords, is moving toward Riyadh even as normalization itself remains stalled.