ASEANEWS HEADLINE: ASIA GEOPOLITICS | MANILA: US approves $5.58 billion fighter jet sale to Philippines

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MANILA, Philippines —  The US State Department has allowed the possible sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines for $5.58 billion to help “improve the security of a strategic partner” in the region.

The approved purchase, although not yet finalized, covers 16 F-16C Block 70/72 jets and four F-16B Block 70/72 fighters.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Department of National Defense (DND) would neither confirm nor deny the development.

“We have not received any official notice of such a decision,” DND Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said.

“Matters concerning ongoing acquisitions remain under the purview of the Department of National Defense,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.

“Nonetheless, we remain steadfast in our mission to defend the nation while anticipating future enhancements that will strengthen our ability to safeguard our territory,” she added.

The State Department announced the development days after the Manila visit of US defense chief Pete Hegseth.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in Southeast Asia,” the statement read.

The announcement was in the form of congressional notifications from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

“The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today,” the State Department said in a statement Wednesday (Manila time).

The State Department said “quantities and dollar totals often shift during negotiations, and today’s announcement technically tees up an opportunity for lawmakers to block the deal within a 30-day period, though such a step is rare.”

The overall package includes 24 engines, 22 AESA radars and a host of internal systems.

It also comes with a collection of munitions: 112 AIM-120C-8 or equivalent missiles, 36 Guided Bomb Unit-39/B Small Diameter Bombs Increment 1, 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles, 32 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles, 60 MK-82 500-lb general purpose bombs and 60 MK-84 2,000-lb general purpose bombs, plus associated equipment.

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Major boost

The sale is expected to greatly boost the Philippine Air Force’s capability to conduct maritime domain awareness and close air support missions.

The aircraft, if included in PAF’s armory, will also significantly enhance its “suppression of enemy air defenses” and aerial interdiction capabilities.

The delivery of the modern warplanes will also increase the ability of the AFP to protect vital interests and territory, as well as expand interoperability with the US forces.

“The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the State Department said.

But it stressed the delivery of the aircraft and related equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The PAF, through spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, also declined to comment on the possible acquisition of F-16 fighters.

“Nonetheless, we continue to perform our mandate, as we also look forward to future developments that will further enhance our capabilities to protect our nation and our skies,” Castillo said.

In a separate interview over Radyo 630, Padilla confirmed ongoing modernization programs lined-up under Horizons 1, 2 and 3, with the latter eventually rebranded as Rehorizon 3, which is heavy on maritime acquisitions.

“Anything that will modernize us and propel us to greater heights with our assets, we gratefully welcome that for the Armed Forces,” she said.

Even Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., during his joint press conference with Hegseth, declined to say if there would be more acquisition of US military equipment or weapons system.

“We will neither confirm nor deny any deployments. We will train as we see fit and Philippine armed forces will equip as it sees fit,” he said.

Ahead of his Philippine visit, Hegseth affirmed US commitment to stand with its allies and partners to deter China’s aggression in the region.

At a press conference, Hegseth said the US and the Philippines have come together to work toward reestablishing military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly through a four-piece plan.

He said the plan would build upon the July 2024 US commitment of $500 million to modernize the Philippine military. It includes agreements on US deployment of advanced weapons systems to the Philippines, bilateral training in high-end operations, bilateral defense-industrial cooperation, and launch of bilateral cyber campaign. – Michael Punongbayan

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