The United States Department of State has approved the sale of F-5.58 fighter jets, radar systems, munitions and related equipment worth $16 billion to the Philippines through Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This decision was formalized in a certification notified to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on April 1, 2025.
Sale Details
This sale to the Philippines will include the following in total:
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16 F-16 C Block 70/72 war plane
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4 F-16 D-Block 70/72 war plane
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24 F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 engines
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22 AN/APG-83 AESA radars (Scalable Agile Beam Radar – SABR)
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88 LAU-129 guided missile launchers
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112 AIM-120C-8 air-to-air missiles
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36 Guided Bomb Units (GBU)-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB-1) and more.
Contributions and Strategic Importance
This sale will provide the Philippine Air Force with significant enhancements in critical missions such as maritime domain awareness, close air support, and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). It will also strengthen the Philippines’ air-to-air interdiction capabilities. This new equipment will enhance the Philippines’ air power, expanding its ability to protect the country’s vital interests and territory.
Cooperation with the USA
The sale will further deepen cooperation between the United States and the Philippines and enhance the interoperability of the two countries’ forces. Following the approved sale, the Philippines will enter the process of acquiring these advanced systems through a contract with Lockheed Martin.
“This proposed sale will enhance the Philippine Air Force’s ability to provide maritime domain awareness and conduct close air support missions. It will also enhance its air-to-air interdiction and suppression capabilities. This sale will enhance the Philippine Armed Forces’ capacity to protect its vital interests and territory, and expand its interoperability with U.S. forces,” DSCA said in a statement following the sale.
general evaluation
This significant sale to the Philippines will affect the strategic balance in the region and greatly strengthen the country's air defense capacity. It is also considered an important step in strengthening the US's security cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
