US approves $7.2-B sale of F-35 jets to NATO ally Romania

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US State Department on Friday said it had approved the sale of dozens of F-35 fighter jets to its NATO ally Romania, a deal worth $7.2 billion.

The contract, which must still be approved by the US Congress, covers Bucharest's purchase of 32 F-35A aircraft and related equipment, produced by the US aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin.