Sources: US discusses selling F-35 jets to Saudis, despite concerns it will harm Israeli military edge

The United States and Saudi Arabia have discussed Riyadh’s potential purchase of Lockheed’s F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions tell Reuters, referring to a military aircraft that the kingdom has reportedly been interested in for years.

However, it is not clear if Washington would permit the kingdom to move forward with a purchase that would give Saudi Arabia an advanced weapon used by close US ally Israel, one of the sources says.

“[Qualitative Military Edge] with Israel has come up,” the second source says, referring to US guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states.

The sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Israel has owned F-35s for nine years, building multiple squadrons.

Governments in the Gulf have long sought the most advanced fighter jet, built with stealth technology allowing it to evade enemy detection. If the US is to approve the transfer, Saudi Arabia would be only the second Middle East state after Israel to operate F-35 fighters.