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QME Qualitative Military Edge

US President Donald Trump (right) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman watch F-35s and F-15s fly over during a welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, November 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)
September 18, 2026, 3:59 am
Trump administration okays sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of $24.3B military package
State Department insists sale ‘won’t alter the military balance in the region,’ referring to US policy of ensuring Israel retains a military edge over potential adversaries; deal must still be approved by Congress
By W.G. Dunlop
Illustrative: A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling mission over Sweden, June 10, 2026. (US Air Force)
July 26, 2026, 1:31 am
US says Turkey yet to meet conditions for F-35s, after Trump signaled he’d back sale
State Department letter to US lawmaker reveals that issue of Ankara owning Russian S-400 air defense systems hasn’t been resolved, meaning that US sanctions still prevent sale
By Jacob Magid
US President Donald Trump (right) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman watch F-35s and F-15s fly over during a welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, November 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)
December 7, 2025, 3:27 pm
Saudi F-35 sale triggers Israeli concern, though military edge may remain intact
Experts say Israel’s air superiority can withstand US sending advanced fighter jets to Riyadh, but worry deal puts normalization on ice and could trigger regional arms race
By Stav Levaton
Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jets depart for strikes in Iran, June 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
November 20, 2025, 9:31 pm
Netanyahu brushes off Saudi F-35 deal, says US will ensure Israel’s military edge
PM says Rubio assured him Washington will maintain Israel’s regional advantage, in contrast to military’s position, which has warned air superiority could be eroded
By Nava Freiberg, Emanuel Fabian and Reuters
US Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 performs aerobatic maneuvers on the second day of the Aero India 2025, a biennial event, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 11, 2025. (AP/ Aijaz Rahi)
November 20, 2025, 11:10 am
Saudi Arabia to receive less advanced F-35 jets than Israel, US officials say
White House source tells Channel 12 that Washington will hold further talks with Israel to ensure fighter jet sale is balanced
By ToI Staff
US President Donald Trump (left) welcomes Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, November 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mark Schiefelbein)
November 19, 2025, 9:48 am
On top of F-35 sale, US and Saudi Arabia ink deals for civil nuclear energy and tanks
Contradicting US intelligence, Trump says MBS ‘knew nothing’ about Khashoggi killing by Saudi agents; Riyadh announces increase in US investment commitments to $1 trillion
By Agencies
Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jets depart for strikes in Iran, June 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
November 18, 2025, 10:10 am
IDF opposes Saudi F-35 deal, warns Israel’s regional air superiority could be eroded
Military submits formal position paper to political leadership as Trump announces sale of stealth jets to Riyadh ahead of visit by crown prince
By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies
US Air Force fighter aircraft F-35 performs aerobatic maneuvers on the second day of the Aero India 2025, a biennial event, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 11, 2025. (AP/ Aijaz Rahi)
November 4, 2025, 11:45 pm
Saudi Arabia’s request to buy F-35 jets clears first key Pentagon hurdle — sources
Sale of as many as 48 jets to Riyadh must receive Congressional okay and Trump sign-off; approval would test US vow to maintain Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge’
By Mike Stone
Israeli F-35i and American F-15 jets hold an exercise over Israel, November 29, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
May 26, 2025, 2:39 am
Trump’s huge Saudi arms deal may be limited by US pledge to preserve Israel’s military edge
As Riyadh eyes advanced weaponry, Washington’s commitment to Israel’s defense supremacy means coveted F-35 fighter jets likely won’t be part of $142 billion in potential sales
By Stav Levaton and Agencies
Defense Minister Benny Gantz (L) and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meet at the Pentagon on December 9, 2021. (Defense Ministry)
December 9, 2021, 11:28 pm
Gantz meets US defense chief, says Iran is ‘playing poker with a bad hand’
Pentagon chief Austin says US prepared for ‘other options’ against Iran if diplomacy fails to block nuclear weapons program
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Colin Kahl, delivers a speech during a panel discussion as part of the US-Islamic World Forum in the Qatari capital Doha on June 1, 2015. (AFP via Getty Images)
March 18, 2021, 4:56 pm
Israeli ex-security officials back Biden nominee who’s on ice over Israel record
3 generals who worked with Colin Kahl say he was instrumental in securing funding for Iron Dome and dedicated to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge
By Ron Kampeas
Illustrative: US Air Force F-35A Lightning II’s at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, on November 16, 2019. (Joshua Williams/US Department of Defense)
November 19, 2020, 7:47 am
Three US senators seek to stop sale of advanced jets to UAE
F-35 deal, seen as linked to Abu Dhabi’s normalization pact with Israel, would ‘facilitate a dangerous arms race,’ Chris Murphy says; bid to thwart it faces uphill battle
By AFP and ToI Staff
An Israeli Yasur heavy transport helicopter flies over Hatzerim air base in southern Israel on June 24, 2015. (Oren Rozen/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
November 16, 2020, 7:03 pm
Top defense official: Israel must replace aging aircraft before it’s too late
In wide-ranging briefing, Defense Ministry director discusses budgetary woes, arms sales and the push to shore up Israel’s military edge in light of F-35 purchase by UAE
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative: Fighter jets from the IAF's second F-35 squadron, the Lions of the South, fly over southern Israel. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 29, 2020, 8:18 pm
White House informs Congress of plans to sell as many as 50 F-35s to UAE
Informal notice of $10.4 billion sale gives lawmakers opportunity to raise objections before it moves forward, comes days after Netanyahu gave blessing to transfer
By Jacob Magid
Prototype of the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator at a firing range in White Sands, New Mexico, March 14, 2007. (AP/Courtesy of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency)
October 27, 2020, 9:33 pm
Bipartisan House bill will encourage US to sell bunker buster bombs to Israel
Proposal would require DOD to consider transferring long-sought munitions capable of penetrating Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure, but move faces considerable hurdles
By Jacob Magid and Judah Ari Gross
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