Lockheed Martin(US:LMT) Xin Hua She·2025-11-20 01:21Core Points - The meeting between US President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed resulted in an agreement on defense cooperation, including a significant arms sale involving F-35 fighter jets [1][6] - If the deal goes through, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab nation to acquire F-35s, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East [6][10] Defense Cooperation - Trump approved a "major defense sales plan" for Saudi Arabia, which includes the future delivery of F-35 fighter jets [1][6] - The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is one of the world's most advanced stealth multirole fighter jets, with over 1,255 units delivered since its first rollout in 2006, each costing between $80 million and $110 million [3][4] Military Balance - The potential sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia raises concerns about diminishing Israel's military advantage in the region, as the US has historically ensured that Israel's military capabilities remain superior to those of other Middle Eastern countries [6][10] - The deal could solidify Saudi Arabia's status as a regional power, but it is noted that it may take at least four years for Saudi Arabia to receive the aircraft [6][10] Technical Concerns - The F-35 program has faced criticism for high costs and delivery delays, with an average delay of 238 days reported for all aircraft deliveries [3][4] - The operational readiness of the F-35 has also been questioned, with only about 55% of the aircraft able to perform their intended missions in 2023 [3][4] Diplomatic Context - The sale of F-35s is linked to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, with reports suggesting that the US may require such normalization as a condition for the sale [9][10] - However, Trump indicated that the sale would not be contingent on any diplomatic conditions, despite Saudi Arabia's insistence on Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for normalization [10]