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Saudi F-35s would lack Israel's advanced features, per US

law

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Law requires Israel have a qualitative military edge

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Israel has operated F-35s for eight years, gaining

significant

experience

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The F-35 fighter jets the

U.S. plans to sell Saudi Arabia will be less advanced than those

operated by Israel, in line with a U.S. law that guarantees

Israel's military edge in the region, U.S. officials and defense

experts said on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump announced the sale this week, but

officials said the Saudi aircraft will lack superior features of

Israel's fleet that include advanced weapons systems and

electronic warfare equipment.

Israel enjoys unique permissions to modify its F-35s,

including the ability to integrate its own weapons systems and

add radar-jamming capabilities and other upgrades that do not

require U.S. approval.

Still, the Israeli Air Force opposed the planned sale, warning

in a position paper to political leaders that it would undermine

Israel's air superiority in the region, The Times of Israel

reported on Tuesday.

Even if Saudi Arabia gets the jets, it is unlikely to

receive the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile,

next-generation air-to-air missiles being developed for

fifth-generation aircraft, according to Douglas Birkey,

executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace

Studies.

The 120 mile-plus range of the JATM represents the most

sensitive missile technology associated with the F-35 platform.

The missile would likely be offered to Israel.

The F-35 is customized to each country and pilot. The U.S.

has the most capable versions, with every other nation receiving

a lesser fighter. It is possible to keep the Saudi jets, made by

Lockheed Martin ( LMT ), technologically inferior to Israeli

jets based on the software package permissioned to the jet.

Beyond capability differences, Israel maintains a numerical

advantage, currently operating two squadrons of F-35s with a

third on order. Saudi Arabia would be limited to two squadrons

that won't be delivered for several years.

Israel has operated F-35s in the region for roughly eight years,

giving it significant experience in learning the aircraft's

systems and capabilities.

U.S. officials said a formal qualitative military edge (QME)

review will be required before the sale is finalized. Any sale

to Saudi Arabia typically must be approved by Congress. One

official had suggested Israel's powerful support on Capitol Hill

could hinder approval.

Officials also noted that Israel seeks to bring Saudi Arabia

into the Abraham Accords to advance regional normalization and

to avoid straining ties with Trump.

Congressional opposition through a veto-proof joint

resolution of disapproval would require a two-thirds majority in

both chambers to override a presidential veto, a threshold

considered difficult to reach.

The sale would put Saudi Arabia on equal footing with Qatar and

the United Arab Emirates, which have also been offered F-35s.

Those deals remain stalled by disputes over delivery schedules,

aircraft capabilities and concerns about Chinese access to the

technology.