Trump greenlights potential $US24 billion F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia

The Trump administration has approved a potential $US24.3 billion sale of up to 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The State Department notified Congress of the proposed package, which includes aircraft, engines, training, spare parts and support. If completed, the deal would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab nation to operate the F-35 and only the second Middle Eastern operator. Washington says the sale would strengthen Saudi deterrence and homeland defence while improving interoperability with US and allied forces. The deal still faces the broader foreign military sales process, and any eventual deliveries could take years because of production backlogs.