Saudi Arabia Shifts Focus from Rafale to F-35 Following Trump’s Comeback

Saudi Arabia is reportedly shifting its focus away from France’s 4.5-generation Rafale fighter jets, particularly following Donald Trump’s significant return to the presidency, which has replaced Joe Biden.

International defense sources indicate that Saudi Arabia’s diminishing interest in the Rafale is linked to a renewed ambition to acquire the advanced American-made F-35 Lightning II, a desire that has been reignited by Trump’s return to the White House.

In its ongoing quest for fifth-generation fighter jets, Saudi Arabia is intensifying efforts to upgrade its air force, which currently includes advanced 4+++ generation aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15SA.

With Trump back in office for a second term, Riyadh perceives a renewed opportunity, believing that the long-sought F-35 acquisition is now more attainable, a scenario that appeared unlikely during the Biden administration.

Riyadh remains steadfast in its pursuit of fifth-generation aircraft, considering its strong relationship with Trump as a potential key to finally gaining access to the highly desired F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin.

However, a critical question persists—does Saudi Arabia’s optimism about securing the F-35 under Trump’s leadership rest on reliable assurances, or is it simply a high-risk gamble?

Saudi Arabia’s interest in the F-35 is motivated by its strategic need to counter regional adversary Iran, which is expected to receive more advanced fighter jets, including Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35.

Earlier reports indicated that Trump had proposed the possibility of selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia during his first term, contingent upon Riyadh establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. However, following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election and Biden’s subsequent presidency, the proposed F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia was suspended by the Democratic administration.

Despite its long-standing alliance with the United States and its role as a key supporter in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has faced a steadfast refusal from Washington regarding the sale of the F-35 fighter jets. The Biden administration has emphasized the importance of maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” as Israel is already equipped with this advanced stealth technology. Furthermore, Israel has expressed strong opposition to the potential sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia.

In light of its unsuccessful bid for the F-35, Saudi Arabia has redirected its attention towards the Rafale fighter jets, specifically the latest model referred to as the “Super Rafale.”

Recent reports suggest that Riyadh is contemplating the purchase of 54 Rafale fighters, which would represent its inaugural acquisition of French military aircraft, following similar purchases by neighboring nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt. According to the French weekly La Tribune, Saudi Arabia has formally requested a price estimate from Dassault Aviation for these 54 Rafale jets. Earlier reports indicated that Riyadh was exploring a significantly larger order, potentially ranging from 100 to 200 Rafale fighters, akin to the fleets of several of its Arab counterparts.

In addition to the Rafale, Saudi Arabia has also received offers for Eurofighter Typhoon jets from a European consortium and F-15EX fighters from Boeing. A previous proposal for the sale of 48 Eurofighter Typhoons encountered challenges after Germany halted arms exports to Saudi Arabia in 2018, following the controversial abduction and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Berlin has now removed its objections to the agreement. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has a longstanding relationship with Boeing, having previously operated earlier variants of the F-15, such as the F-15 Eagle and F-15SA. Boeing has highlighted that the F-15EX retains many features from its predecessor models, including existing infrastructure, training systems, pilot proficiency, and maintenance support.

At present, the RSAF has a fleet consisting of 84 F-15SA fighters. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring around 100 units of the fifth-generation “KAAN” fighter jet, which is currently being developed by Türkiye. Discussions regarding the potential acquisition of the KAAN took place during a recent visit by Royal Saudi Air Force Commander Prince Turki bin Bandar Al Saud to Türkiye.