Israel’s military formally objected to U.S. plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, warning the deal could undercut Israel’s regional air superiority, according to The Times of Israel. President Donald Trump confirmed the intended sale ahead of talks with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.
“We will be doing that,” Trump told reporters, although no specifics of the deal have been provided.
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The Wall Street Journal says the move signals a public rehabilitation of the crown prince following the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. U.S. intelligence reports said bin Salman ordered Khashoggi’s killing.
The high-stakes deal
The fighter jets are part of a broader modernization push by Riyadh, which is also seeking access to advanced computer chips and civilian nuclear technology. Currently, Israel stands as the only nation in the Middle East with the stealth F-35 in its arsenal.
The U.S. is legally bound to maintain Israel’s “qualitative military edge” over its neighbors. Israeli defense officials argue that introducing the F-35 to Saudi Arabia endangers this advantage by allowing a regional power to match their capabilities.
Officials worry the jet’s advanced sensor suite could allow Saudi forces to track Israeli Air Force movements across the region, potentially compromising operations in sensitive areas like the Red Sea or Iran.
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Israel is the only Middle Eastern operator of the F-35, with 45 jets in service and 30 more on order.
The ‘Adir’ advantage and safeguards
Israel operates a unique version of the F-35 called the “Adir” (F-35i). That’s different from the model that would be sold to Saudi Arabia.
The Adir model is modified with custom Israeli electronic warfare systems and avionics not found on other planes. Crucially, the Adir utilizes external fuel tanks that extend its range by roughly 30%, a capability designed specifically to allow long-range strikes on targets like Iran without the need for mid-air refueling.
U.S. control and dependency
The U.S. strictly oversees global F-35 fleets to ensure other nations cannot use the jet’s sensitive technology against American interests. Despite reports speculating that the U.S. has installed “kill switches” on F-35s sold to other countries, the Pentagon’s Joint Program Office explicitly denied their existence in March 2025, stating, “There is no kill switch.”
Instead, U.S. leverage relies on the aircraft’s complexity. Experts note that while Washington cannot remotely disable a jet, it can “hobble” a foreign fleet by cutting off essential software updates, maintenance support and access to U.S. computer networks. Without this continuous support, the jets would quickly become difficult to fly and vulnerable to enemy air defenses. These operational dependencies remain a source of friction for international partners.
Historical precedent
This diplomatic friction mirrors a major confrontation in 1981, when the Reagan administration proposed an $8.5 billion sale of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Then, as now, Israeli planners warned the sale would erode the nation’s power in the region.
To overcome fierce opposition, including a resolution of disapproval sponsored by half the Senate, the administration emphasized strict operational controls, which are still in place today. The deal excluded the most sensitive anti-jamming gear and required U.S. contractor maintenance for the life of the aircraft; proponents argued that if the Saudis “misused” the planes, the U.S. could pull its support personnel, effectively grounding the fleet in a matter of days.
The sale proceeded under these strict controls, and the Reagan administration promised Israel an extra $600 million in military aid over two years to offset the risk.
This balancing act was repeated more recently in late 2011, when the Obama administration finalized a $30 billion deal to sell 84 advanced F-15SA fighters to Saudi Arabia. At the time, U.S. officials framed the massive package, which also included upgrades to 70 existing jets and new helicopters, as a necessary countermeasure against rising Iranian threats across the Persian Gulf.
Despite the scale of the transfer, the State Department cleared the sale following a qualitative military edge assessment, concluding that strengthening Saudi air power would not undercut Israel’s air superiority.
The China factor
Beyond regional dynamics, the newly announced deal faces global complications.
Haaretz reports that the White House is concerned about sensitive F-35 technology leaking to China, given Beijing’s deepening ties with Riyadh. Similar security concerns previously stalled a potential F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates.
Even if the deal proceeds, The Times of Israel notes it would likely take at least seven years for the first aircraft to be delivered. Additionally, the sale faces a hurdle in Washington. The Trump administration must formally notify Congress, where lawmakers could attempt to block the transfer.
However, The Wall Street Journal notes that Congress has never successfully blocked an arms sale through a resolution of disapproval.
