US to sell 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department notified Congress of a proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia, a contract for major US defence contractors, officials said. The package, officials added, includes 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and associated equipment, and the department said the sale would not change the regional military balance.

Reaction pending.

Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney exposure

If approved, the deal would sustain production lines and long-term support work for the contract's principal contractors, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, which are named as prime suppliers in the notification, officials said. The notification triggers statutory congressional review rights; for non‑NATO recipients the review window is 30 days, a period during which lawmakers can raise objections that may delay or block a transfer.

The sale also includes spare parts and related logistical support, which tend to generate follow-on service and sustainment revenue over years rather than a one-off equipment payment. That pattern means equity moves for suppliers would likely reflect both near-term contract recognition and longer-term parts-and-maintenance demand, if the transfer proceeds.

Watch the congressional review window closely. The 30-day review for a non‑NATO country begins on the date of notification and expires on October 17, 2026; any formal congressional objection filed by that date could alter the timing or scope of deliveries, officials said.