The United States has approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, but officials confirm the aircraft will be in a downgraded configuration to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge (QME) in the region, a requirement under U.S. law. This planned sale, announced by President Donald Trump, is part of a new Strategic Defense Agreement between the two nations.
To uphold Israel's military advantage, the F-35s destined for Saudi Arabia will lack several of the advanced systems found in the Israeli Air Force's fleet. Israel's F-35I "Adir" has unique permissions to integrate its own weapons systems and hardware upgrades without U.S. approval, is equipped with advanced, locally developed munitions and electronic warfare equipment, is expected to be offered the next-generation AIM-260 (JATM) missile and is enhanced with unique radar-jamming capabilities and other classified features.
On the other hand, the F-35 the Saudis are being offered are of the standard configuration, with no authority for major independent modifications, will lack the superior features of Israel's fleet, including top-tier weapons systems, is unlikely to receive the advanced, long-range AIM-260 missile and the aircraft itself will be less advanced, missing sensitive electronic warfare packages.
The concept of Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME) is a cornerstone of U.S. policy, legally requiring that the United States ensure Israel's armed forces are capable of defeating any potential coalition of regional adversaries. This means that Israel must maintain a clear technological and tactical superiority over its neighbors.
This principle directly influences all U.S. arms sales in the Middle East. As one defense expert noted, the F-35 is customized for each country, and the U.S. retains the most capable versions for itself. The arrangement with Israel is particularly unique, as it is the only country granted permission to deeply modify the aircraft with its own technology, a privilege not extended to other allies.
Despite the planned downgrades, the Israeli Air Force has formally opposed the sale, warning in a position paper that introducing the F-35 to another regional air force could still undermine Israel's air superiority. However, the Israeli government is also navigating broader strategic goals, notably the desire to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords to advance regional normalization.
The deal is not yet finalized. A formal QME review will be conducted to assess any potential impact on Israel's military edge. Furthermore, the sale must be approved by the U.S. Congress, where Israel enjoys strong bipartisan support that could pose a significant hurdle. While Congress could attempt to block the sale, achieving a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a potential presidential veto is considered a high bar to clear.