Saudi F-35 Request Passes US Congressional Review Deadline Without a Vote to Block It, Sabq Reports
The 30-day period in which the US Congress could review the proposed sale of 48 F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia ended on Saturday 17 October 2026 without a Senate vote to block it, the Saudi newspaper Sabq reported on 18 October. No contract has been announced, and the sale still has to be negotiated and signed.
What has happened
The US State Department approved the possible Foreign Military Sale on 17 September. Saudi Arabia has asked for 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft in the conventional take-off and landing version and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines (48 installed and one spare), along with cryptographic and secure communications equipment, electronic warfare database support, spares, training, simulators, software and logistics support. The principal contractors would be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.
On 24 September Senator Rand Paul introduced S.J.Res. 217, a joint resolution of disapproval that would prohibit the sale. It was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sabq, citing the congressional legislative record, said the resolutions against arms sales to the kingdom were still with the committee when the review period expired, and that the Senate is not due to resume regular business until 9 November. The Arms Export Control Act sets a 30-day review period for proposed sales of this kind to countries such as Saudi Arabia.
What the numbers mean
The State Department put the estimated total cost at $24.3 billion. That is the notified estimate for the full package, not a contract price, and it covers far more than the aircraft. It should not be divided to produce a cost per jet. The notification lists no weapons; munitions would need separate notifications, Sabq noted. No delivery schedule has been published, so the aircraft are requested, not ordered, contracted or delivered.
Regional context
Israel is the only operator of the F-35 in the Middle East. The UAE received US approval for up to 50 F-35As in November 2020 as part of a $23.37 billion arms package, but suspended talks in December 2021, and no contract followed. The Saudi request comes as the kingdom faces near-daily Houthi missile and drone attacks; on 18 October the Saudi-led coalition reported the crash of a National Guard AH-6i helicopter in Najran. DefenceMENA has examined how far Vision 2030 can reduce Saudi reliance on foreign arms and Lockheed Martin’s presence in the region.
What to watch
Points to watch: whether the Senate acts on the disapproval resolution after it returns, the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance, any industrial participation or offset arrangements, which the State Department said would be set in negotiations, and any notification of weapons for the aircraft.
Sources
- US Department of State: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (17 September 2026)
- US Government Publishing Office: S.J.Res. 217, introduced 24 September 2026
- Sabq: Congressional review period for Saudi F-35 deal ends without a vote to block it (18 October 2026, Arabic)
- Reuters: US approves $23.37 billion arms sale to UAE (November 2020); UAE to suspend F-35 talks (December 2021)
