The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of a proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in US arms policy toward the Gulf kingdom. The State Department said the deal would strengthen Saudi homeland defence and improve interoperability with US forces, while insisting it would not alter the regional military balance — a standard assurance tied to Washington's commitment to preserving Israel's military edge in the Middle East. The sale still requires congressional approval and faces scrutiny over intelligence warnings that Chinese access to Saudi networks could compromise the F-35 (the most advanced fighter aircraft in the US arsenal) technology.