The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of a plan to sell up to 48
Lockheed Martin F-35 combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia, with a potential value of
up to $24.3 bln. Washington said the sale would support U.S. diplomatic and
national security objectives by boosting the security capabilities of a key
non-NATO ally and bolstering political stability and economic development in the
Gulf. The F-35 transaction has been under preparation for years; if completed,
Saudi Arabia would become a new F-35 operator.
