US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia

The United States has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Thursday, the kingdom's latest major arms purchase since the start of the Iran war. Saudi Arabia has long sought to buy F-35s, but officials from Israel – currently the only country in the Middle East to operate the jets – have voiced concern about their sale to Riyadh despite a push for the kingdom to normalise relations. Read moreTrump says Saudi nuclear deal contingent on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel "The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defence, and improving interoperability with US forces," the State Department said in a statement. It "will also augment Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft and enhance its air-to-air, and air-to-ground self-defence capability", the statement said. The Saudi embassy in Washington praised the transaction, saying it "reflects the strength and enduring nature" of the relationship with the United States. It added that the security cooperation between the two countries "has contributed to regional stability, strengthened our collect...