The brief
The US State Department approved the possible sale of around $24.3 billion worth of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter The proposed sale includes 48 F-35 aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing capability and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, including 48 installed engines and one spare engine, the State Department said in its statement. Key points and original sources are listed below.
- The US State Department approved the possible sale of around $24.3 billion worth of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike FighterS1
- The proposed sale includes 48 F-35 aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing capability and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, including 48 installed engines and one spare engine, the State Department said in its statement.S2
- 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 normalize relations.S3
