State Department approves sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department has approved the sale of 48 fifth‑generation F‑35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia under a contract valued at over $24 billion.

The package includes aircraft, equipment, spare parts, and engines, and the State Department said the deal would not disrupt the Middle East balance of power.

Israel already operates F‑35 jets, which have seen combat