Israel plans to request additional U.S. weapons and defense capabilities following Washington's approval of a potential $24.3 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, according to reports in Israeli media cited by Middle East Eye. The move reflects Jerusalem's determination to maintain its qualitative military edge as regional powers acquire advanced American systems.
Israeli officials are expected to ask the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to approve weapons systems Washington had previously declined to provide, according to Walla. The reported requests extend beyond advanced fighter aircraft and stealth capabilities to space-based weapons and the development and production of interceptor aircraft. Israeli officials are also expected to seek bunker-busting munitions and underground systems capable of operating deep beneath rocky mountains.
The Strategic Calculation
Walla said the requests are intended to secure a U.S. "compensation" package following Washington's decision to approve the potential F-35 sale to Riyadh. The U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia the same day. The proposed package also includes 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, communications and cryptographic equipment, electronic warfare support, training and logistics, according to the State Department's notification to Congress.
The proposed sale still requires congressional approval. Middle East Eye said it had reported for months on the progress of the sale, with multiple U.S. and Arab sources saying it was moving quickly. The sale would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab country to operate F-35s, while Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern country operating the aircraft.
The Regional Threat Picture
Reuters reported that the proposed sale could test Washington's longstanding policy of maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the region. That policy has guided U.S. arms sales to the Middle East for decades, ensuring Israel retains a decisive technological advantage over potential adversaries. The principle isn't ceremonial. It's the foundation of Israel's deterrence posture in a region where multiple state and non-state actors have openly called for its destruction.
Middle East Eye also said Saudi Arabia is reeling from Houthi missile and drone attacks while its allies in Yemen, the internationally recognized government, are struggling to stem a Houthi offensive that has resulted in them securing the entirety of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, along with the Arabian Gulf side of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthi advances underscore the broader Iranian proxy network's expanding reach across the region, a strategic reality that shapes both Israeli and Saudi security calculations.
The Diplomatic Context
Middle East Eye said it had reported less than one year ago that the Saudi F-35 purchase would be fast-tracked. It also said it revealed less than one year ago that the Trump administration was reviewing Israel's qualitative military edge. The timing suggests Washington is recalibrating its regional security architecture as it pursues normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states, a process that requires balancing Israeli security concerns with incentives for Arab partners.
The compensation requests reflect Israel's concern that advanced American weapons in Saudi hands could shift the regional balance if relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh deteriorate or if Saudi systems fall into hostile hands through conflict or regime change. Israel's history of facing sudden shifts in regional alignments makes such caution more than bureaucratic reflex.
Why This Matters:
The Israeli request for advanced weapons as compensation reveals the strategic complexity of U.S. efforts to build a regional security architecture that includes both Israel and Arab states. While normalization agreements have reduced tensions, they haven't eliminated the fundamental security dilemmas that drive Israeli defense planning. Iran's proxy network continues to expand, Hezbollah's arsenal has grown to include precision-guided missiles, and Hamas retains the capability to launch attacks from Gaza. Israel's insistence on maintaining its qualitative military edge isn't about regional dominance but about deterring adversaries who have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to attack Israeli civilians. The bunker-busting munitions Israel reportedly seeks would address Iran's underground nuclear facilities, a threat that hasn't diminished despite diplomatic efforts. If congressional approval of the Saudi sale proceeds without parallel commitments to Israel's defense needs, it could undermine the security foundation that makes normalization politically sustainable in Jerusalem.