What is the F-35 fighter jet, and why does Saudi Arabia want it?

Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, is meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

The crown prince’s first visit since 2018 highlights the close relationship between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia.

Up to 48 F-35 fighter jets are being planned for sale to Saudi Arabia, something the kingdom has been wanting for years, but previous US administrations have turned down, partially due to Israel’s opposition.

So why is Saudi Arabia so interested in purchasing the F-35? And why did the US change its mind about the sale? What information is necessary here.

What is an F-35?

A family of Lockheed Martin stealth strike fighters is named after the US aerospace company. The F35 Lightning II is referred to as “The Most Advanced Fighter Jet in the World” on its official website.

It is designed to defy radar and other technologies because it operates as a stealth fighter. If successful, it can use its strike capabilities to attack an enemy’s defenses and fighter jets before they launch, establishing air superiority in any given conflict.

Australia, Canada, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom are some of the nations that work with the US to produce F-35s. They either create the fighter jets from scratch or have facilities there to do so for their own governments.

What varieties of F-35s are there?

The most prevalent variant is owned by the most countries, making up the majority. On a regular runway, it can take off and land. To maintain its stealth capabilities, the F-35A’s weapons and fuel are housed inside the jet’s body.

Israel owns the customised F-35A known as the F-35I “Adir.” It includes Israeli-developed decoy and jamming technologies to enhance its stealth capabilities. Additionally, it has been modified to fly longer missions without having to refill it with external fuel. Israel has obtained US approval to modify the jet’s main operating system to allow the installation of local Israeli weapons.

Italy, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US all use the F35-B. It has a very short lead-up and can land like a helicopter, making it a good choice for operations with very short runways. It weighs more and has fewer weapons and fuel than the F35-A, but it is still smaller.

The US Navy’s F35-C is a supersonic stealth fighter that operates long-range. It is specifically designed for aircraft carriers.

What makes these fighters unique?

The F-35 fighter jet is referred to as the “most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft in the world,” according to Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer.

The combination of stealth, advanced sensors, and high-speed computing, which accounts for the plane’s reputation for air superiority, is at the heart of the aircraft’s success.

It uses a 360-degree camera suite and other sensors directly to provide the pilot with more information about its surroundings and reduces detection than earlier generations of fighter jets.

It makes a significant change in how air power is used for militaries by putting less emphasis on identifying threats first, disseminating that information across the force, and coordinating strikes with other assets.

Who has F-35s?

Saudi Arabia wants them, but why?

Saudi Arabia has been a major buyer of US weapons for decades. However, it was unable to join the F-35 program.

That would enable Saudi Arabia to improve its air force and strengthen its position in the Middle East. Tehran and Riyadh have previously cut off ties and treated each other as threats, despite the fact that their current relations are positive right now.

Saudi Arabia has previously fought Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Although it is still in its early stages, the unresolved conflict could rekindle in the coming years.

Will Saudi Arabia purchase F-35s from the US?

Even if sales of weapons are authorized by the president, the US Congress has the option to refuse them.

Trump has sincere statements to the contrary, and he reiterated his desire to continue selling in his White House appearance on Tuesday.

He blasted Saudi Arabia and the crown prince, particularly in light of the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who had long been a major source of tension between the two nations, particularly under former US President Joe Biden’s administration.

He also notably demonstrated no disregard for Israel’s “qualitative military edge” US security policy, which stipulates that it should always have access to superior weapons over its neighbors in the Middle East.

Source: Aljazeera