The US State Department has approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. The deal is part of a broader security package worth $5,58 billion and includes hundreds of air-to-air missiles, bombs, anti-aircraft guns and munitions. The official announcement came after a visit to the Philippines by US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth and ahead of the annual Balikatan military exercise. Hegseth said during the visit that Washington plans to strengthen its strategic allies in Asia and reestablish deterrence in the region.
F-16 Package Contents and Technical Details
The aircraft sales package to the Philippines includes 16 F-16C Block 70/72 and 4 F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with a variety of advanced military technologies, including 88 LAU-129 guided missile launchers, 112 advanced AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120C-8), 36 guided bomb units and 60 MK-84 2.000 lb general-purpose bombs. In addition, there will be 32 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles and 30 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) tail kits.
Defense Modernization of the Philippines
The sale is a significant step as part of the Philippines’ efforts to modernize its military. The Philippines has been without a front-line fighter since retiring its Northrop F-2005 A/B fleet in 5. Following abortive aircraft replacement talks that began in the late 1990s, a proposed $2021 billion F-2,43 sales package in 16 was also not realized due to budget constraints.
Last year, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced plans to purchase 3 fighter jets as part of a defense plan called “Horizon 40.” This major modernization push is a cornerstone of the Philippines’ defense strategy. The plan also saw a significant increase in the country’s defense budget. President Ferdinand Marcos approved the new “Horizon 3” plan, which will be subject to parliamentary approval, and the budget for this plan is set at 1,89 trillion pesos ($33,6 billion).
Future Plans and Strategic Goals
The Philippines will continue to invest heavily in modernizing its military in the coming years. However, these fighter jets have not yet been definitively selected. The Philippine government is expected to select aircraft that comply with its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which aims to protect exclusive economic zones in the area it calls the West Philippine Sea. In this context, the F-16s are thought to be an option that fits the military strategy in the region.
