THE United States has approved a request by the Philippine government to buy 20 F-16 fighter jets, with an estimated cost of $5.58 billion or nearly P320 billion, which are expected to improve the Philippine military’s capability to defend the country’s interests and territory.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an office under the US Department of Defense, said it was the US State Department that approved the sale of the 20 F-16s, and related equipment and logistics, including missiles.
The Philippines’ Department of National Defense, through spokesman Arsenio Andolong, said it has not received “any official notice of such a decision.”
The DND has been trying to procure much-need, multi-role fighters over the past years under the military’s modernization program to improve the country’s territorial defense capabilities.
Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla declined to comment on the reported approval.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines issues statements only on capabilities that have been officially turned over to the AFP for operational use. Matters concerning ongoing acquisitions remain under the purview of the Department of National Defense,” said Padilla.
Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma Consuelo Castillo said the Air Force can only comment on assets that have been delivered to them.
“We respectfully defer to the DND regarding statements concerning future or ongoing acquisitions,” she said.
The DSCA, in a statement issued on April 1, said: “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Philippines of F-16 Aircraft for an estimated cost of $5.58 billion.”
The DSCA said it has delivered the “required certification” notifying the US Congress of the possible sale, also on April 1.
It said the proposed sale supports US foreign policy and national security “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.”
DSCA said this will enhance the capability of the Philippine Air Force in the conduct of “maritime domain awareness and close air support missions and enhance its suppression of enemy air defenses and aerial interdiction capabilities.”
“This sale will also increase the ability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to protect vital interests and territory, as well as expand interoperability with the US forces,” it said.
The DSCA said Philippines “will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The DND has been in talks with US defense department since the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In June 2021, the US State Department made a similar approval for the sale of 12 F-16s to the Philippines. However, an actual contract was not reached due to budgetary constraints.
