JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's defense establishment opposed a proposed U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia over concerns that the deal could erode Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported Friday.
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that the government had approved a potential sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets, along with communications equipment and other support items, to Saudi Arabia.
Estimated at 24.3 billion U.S. dollars, the deal still needs congressional approval.
The F-35, built with stealth technology designed to evade enemy detection, is considered among the world's most advanced fighter jets. Israel is reportedly the only country in the Middle East to currently operate the aircraft.
The proposed sale "will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, and improving interoperability with U.S. forces, and other regional and NATO forces," the U.S. State Department said in a news release on Thursday, noting that it "will not alter the military balance in the region." ■
