The State Department approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, while the administration separately notified Congress of a $2.8 billion bomb sale to Israel. Together the two deals total more than $27 billion, and Congress now has 30 days to object before either can proceed.
Saudi Arabia clears $24.3 billion F-35 sale
The State Department approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, along with 49 engines and support equipment. The deal would make Riyadh the first Arab country to operate the jet if it goes through.
President Trump announced the sale in November 2025, ahead of hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. Congress has 30 days to object, though only a veto-proof two-thirds vote in both chambers could actually block it. China's access to F-35 technology through Saudi Arabia's military ties to Beijing remains an open US intelligence concern, and Israel, the only current Middle East operator of the aircraft, has already objected to losing its edge.
Israel gets $2.8 billion in bombs, paid by US taxpayers
Separately, the administration notified Congress Tuesday of a $2.8 billion sale to Israel, including 40,000 heavy bombs, comprising 20,000 Mk84s and 20,000 BLU-117s — the same bombs the Biden administration paused two years ago over Gaza mass-casualty concerns. Most of the purchase is paid for with US taxpayer money routed through foreign military financing, so Israel buys American weapons with American funds while Riyadh pays out of its own pocket.
Congress appropriates $3.3 billion a year in Foreign Military Financing for Israel, plus $500 million for missile defense, under a 10-year agreement running through 2028. That money is a grant Israel never repays, but Israel cannot spend it freely either: the funds are earmarked to buy American weapons through the US government's own Foreign Military Sales system or direct contracts with US defense companies.
As a result, the money moves in a loop: Congress appropriates it, hands it to Israel, Israel pays it back to the US government to buy the weapons, and that payment lands with American contractors such as General Dynamics or Boeing — the same method that funded Israel's $8.6 billion F-15IA contract with Boeing in December. Israel also gets terms few other countries receive: cash-flow financing that spreads a large purchase across several years, and a shortened congressional review window. The Israel sale follows a $6.67 billion package in January and a $3 billion sale last year that skipped normal congressional review entirely.
Source: Oilprice.com
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