Qatar has reopened discussions with the United States over a potential acquisition of the F-35 stealth fighter jet, reviving a bid that was rejected roughly five years ago and signaling a possible shift in U.S. policy toward advanced fighter sales in the Middle East. According to Israel’s Channel 12, which reported on December 15, 2025, the talks are already underway and are described as more advanced than earlier attempts, reflecting a more permissive strategic and political environment in Washington.
The renewed dialogue comes as the United States is simultaneously weighing potential F-35 pathways for other regional states, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Taken together, these parallel discussions suggest a broader reassessment of how fifth-generation airpower might be distributed in the region after years of strict restraint.
Why The 2020 Bid Failed
Qatar’s earlier push for the F-35 around 2020 reached the formal letter-of-request stage in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, a significant milestone that underscored Doha’s seriousness. That effort ultimately stalled amid a convergence of political, strategic, and congressional concerns rather than a single decisive obstacle.
At the core of the rejection was the long-standing U.S. commitment to preserve Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME), which ensures that Israel maintains a measurable technological and operational advantage over other regional militaries. At the time, Washington was already navigating sensitive negotiations with the United Arab Emirates over a potential F-35 sale linked to the Abraham Accords, and there was reluctance to open additional fifth-generation tracks that could complicate regional balances.
Concerns in Congress over Qatar’s regional relationships and political positions also weighed heavily, as did fears about the rapid spread of stealth technology in a volatile security environment. While none of these issues has disappeared, officials now characterize the current talks as taking place under different strategic assumptions, suggesting that U.S. policymakers are reassessing how such risks can be managed rather than avoided.
Israel’s Qualitative Edge Under Scrutiny
For Israel, Qatar’s renewed bid is significant less because of Doha alone and more because of its place within a wider regional pattern. Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern operator of the F-35, flying 45 F-35I aircraft with 30 additional jets on order, and has accumulated nearly a decade of operational experience across multiple mission profiles.
Potential F-35 sales to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, or Morocco would not automatically erase Israel’s advantage, particularly if export versions differ from Israel’s uniquely modified configuration. However, Israeli officials are concerned that the cumulative effect of multiple such sales could narrow Israel’s exclusivity in fifth-generation capabilities, reduce the technological gap that has long underpinned its air superiority, and complicate regional airspace with more actors capable of low-observable operations.
Israeli Preparations And Compensation Talks
In anticipation of possible U.S. approvals, Israel is reportedly preparing a compensatory package to seek from Washington should regional F-35 sales move forward. This package is described as including two additional fighter squadrons, one equipped with more F-35s and another based on an advanced F-15I-family variant, referred to as the F-15IA, tailored to Israeli requirements. Expanded access to advanced munitions in especially large quantities is also part of the discussion.
Timing is viewed as critical. Israeli officials have emphasized a narrow decision window, warning that delays could translate into lost priority in U.S. production schedules, affecting delivery timelines and long-term force planning. Israel’s unique status as the region’s sole F-35 operator remains closely tied to U.S. assurances on preserving its QME.
Political Sensitivities Surrounding Qatar
Qatar’s case carries additional sensitivity because of its political and security posture. Qatar and Turkey are described by Israeli officials as hosting Hamas leaders and offices and as being openly opposed to Israel’s war in Gaza, with Israel accusing both countries of supporting terrorism. Israeli airstrikes in Qatar in September reportedly targeted senior Hamas figures in Doha but failed to kill them, an episode that heightened bilateral tensions.
Following those strikes, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring that any armed attack on Qatar would be considered a threat to U.S. peace and security, warning of a harsh response to any future attack. These dynamics intersect with Qatar’s role as host of Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the region, housing around 8,000 U.S. personnel. The base was attacked earlier this year by Iran in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.
Strengthening U.S.–Qatar Ties
Despite these tensions, Qatar’s broader relationship with the United States has strengthened since President Trump began his second term in January. Doha views the current administration as more receptive to its strategic arguments, particularly Qatar’s role as a critical U.S. military host and partner. An unusual illustration of this closeness emerged when Qatar donated a Boeing 747-8 VIP aircraft to the United States, which Washington plans to convert for temporary use as Air Force One.
Nevertheless, concerns in Washington persist. Any F-35 sale would require congressional approval and could take years to negotiate and deliver. A reference price of around $80 million per F-35A is often cited, though final costs would depend on configuration, training, and long-term support packages.
An Air Force Already Transformed
Qatar’s persistence reflects the scale of its air force expansion over the past decade. The Qatar Emiri Air Force, formally established in 1974, evolved from a small helicopter-based unit into one of the most heavily equipped air arms in the Gulf. By 2010 it operated Mirage 2000 fighters, Gazelle helicopters, and C-17 transports, before launching a sweeping modernization drive.
That effort produced a series of major procurements, including 24 Rafale fighters ordered in 2015, a $21.1 billion F-15QA deal signed in 2016, and orders for Eurofighter Typhoons and additional Rafales in 2017. Today, Qatar operates 36 Rafales, 24 Typhoons with 12 more on order, and 37 F-15QA aircraft out of 48 ordered, alongside advanced platforms such as the AH-64E Apache.
An Uncertain Outcome
Whether Qatar’s revived F-35 bid will succeed remains an open question. The political and strategic issues that blocked the 2020 attempt have not been fully resolved, but they are now being weighed within a broader U.S. reassessment of regional airpower policy. As Washington considers multiple F-35 pathways at once, Qatar’s case is likely to be judged not in isolation, but as part of a wider calculation about how far the United States is willing to go in reshaping the Middle East airpower balance.
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