Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
Saudi Arabia has received approval to purchase radar-evading F-35 Lightning II fighter jets worth $24.3 billion. This deal includes 48 fifth-generation jets and 49 powerful Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, which will greatly enhance Saudi Arabia's air and ground defense capabilities. Military experts believe that this move will not only increase Riyadh's operational capabilities but could also change the balance of power in the Middle East.
Contract Details and Equipment
This transaction also includes critical support equipment, which encompasses secure communication and encryption systems, as well as electronic warfare support. The purchase of F-35s by Saudi Arabia is aimed at strengthening the country's defensive capabilities against regional threats and elevating the operational capabilities of the Royal Saudi Air Force to a new level. The United States has issued a license for the sale of 48 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, along with 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines to Saudi Arabia.
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Regional Implications and International Relations
The approval of the F-35 sale comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is currently engaged with the Houthis in Yemen. The country's air force recently lost an F-15SA fighter jet after encountering Houthi air defense systems. Given the stealth capabilities of the F-35 jets, they are expected to assist Saudi Arabia in penetrating Houthi air defense systems and reducing enemy radar response times. This is the first sale of F-35s to an Arab country, and while a previous attempt to sell these jets to the United Arab Emirates failed due to difficult conditions, Saudi Arabia continues to condition the normalization of relations with Israel on resolving the Palestinian issue.
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