WASHINGTON : The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia valued at an estimated $3.0 billion, authorizing long-term sustainment support for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter fleet. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified the U.S. Congress of the proposed transaction on February 3, 2026, completing the statutory certification process required for arms sales to foreign partners.
The approved sale does not include new aircraft. Instead, it is limited to sustainment services, maintenance support, and associated equipment intended to preserve the operational readiness and longevity of Saudi Arabia’s existing F-15 fleet.
Scope and Purpose of the Sale
According to the DSCA notification, the sustainment package is designed to support approximately 210 F-15 aircraft currently operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force, making it the second-largest F-15 fleet in the world. The fleet includes F-15C and F-15D air superiority fighters, as well as upgraded strike variants, including the F-15S and the F-15SA (Saudi Advanced).
The proposed sale covers a broad range of sustainment activities essential to keeping the aircraft mission-ready. These include the provision of spare and repair parts, consumables, accessories, and repair-and-return services required for routine and corrective maintenance. The package also includes classified and unclassified technical publications, software support, and logistics management services necessary for fleet-wide operations.
Training is another component of the agreement. Saudi personnel would receive technical and maintenance training, supported by specialized training equipment, to ensure continued self-sufficiency in operating and sustaining the aircraft. In addition, the package provides engineering, technical, and logistics assistance from both U.S. government personnel and defense contractors.
Strategic Context and U.S. Policy Rationale
The DSCA stated that the proposed sale is consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s role as a key security partner in the Middle East. In November 2025, the United States formally designated Saudi Arabia as a Major non-NATO Ally, a status that reflects close defense cooperation and facilitates access to U.S. military support and technology.
U.S. officials noted that the sustainment package is intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter regional threats and to maintain interoperability with U.S. and allied forces operating in the Gulf region. The agency added that the sale is not expected to alter the regional military balance, as it does not introduce new offensive capabilities or platforms.
Contractors and Personnel Requirements
Unlike major aircraft procurement programs, the F-15 sustainment sale does not identify a single prime contractor. Instead, multiple U.S. defense firms are expected to participate by providing parts, technical services, and logistics support as required under the agreement.
The DSCA indicated that implementation of the sale may require the temporary or long-term assignment of a limited number of additional U.S. civilian contractors or military personnel to Saudi Arabia. These personnel would support technical, engineering, and logistics functions tied directly to the sustainment effort.
U.S. officials also confirmed that the transaction will not adversely affect U.S. military readiness, as the equipment and services involved are primarily sustainment-related and do not draw from critical U.S. operational stocks.
Financial Terms and Offsets
The estimated value of the proposed sale is $3.0 billion, though final costs may vary depending on specific requirements, contract negotiations, and sustainment timelines. At the time of notification, there were no known offset agreements associated with the sale. Any future offset arrangements would be negotiated directly between Saudi Arabia and participating contractors, outside the scope of the DSCA notification.
Broader Defense Cooperation
The F-15 sustainment approval follows a separate U.S. authorization in late January 2026 for the sale of Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to Saudi Arabia, valued at approximately $9 billion. Together, the two approvals underscore a period of continued defense cooperation between Washington and Riyadh, focused on maintaining existing capabilities rather than introducing new platforms.
Congress now has the opportunity to review the proposed F-15 sustainment sale within the standard notification period. Absent legislative action to block the transaction, the sale may proceed to contract negotiations and implementation.
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