State Department clears way for $24.3B F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia

[Low angle shot of a F-35 Lightning 2 plane flying at a show] Wirestock The State Department has approved a potential $24.3B sale of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin (LMT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LMT]), to Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom is battling Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 48 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and other equipment. The proposed sale — which would require congressional approval — will strengthen Saudi Arabia's homeland defense as well as improve interoperability with U.S., regional and NATO forces, the State Department said.