RIYADH, May 13 (Reuters) - The United States and Saudi

Arabia have discussed Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed's

F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters,

referring to a military aircraft that the kingdom has reportedly

been interested in for years.

However, it is not clear if Washington would permit the

kingdom to move forward with a purchase that would give Saudi

Arabia an advanced weapon used by close U.S. ally Israel, one of

the sources said.

"(Qualitative Military Edge) with Israel has come up," the

second source said, referring to U.S. guarantees that Israel

receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states.

The sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Israel has owned F-35s for nine years, building multiple

squadrons.

Governments in the Gulf have long sought the most advanced

fighter jet, built with stealth technology allowing it to evade

enemy detection. If the U.S. did approve the transfer, Saudi

Arabia would be only the second Middle East state after Israel

to operate F-35 fighters.

During Tuesday's visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to

Riyadh, the U.S. is poised to offer the kingdom an arms package

worth well over $100 billion, six sources with direct knowledge

of the issue told Reuters previously.