Washington, 4 April - In a significant move that underscores the strengthening ties between the United States and the Philippines, the U.S. State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of 20 advanced F-16 fighter jets to the Philippine government, valued at an estimated $5.58 billion. This deal, announced on April 1, 2025, by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), marks a pivotal step in modernizing the Philippine Air Force and enhancing its capability to address growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the contested South China Sea. The approval comes just days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Manila, where he reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, signaling a clear message to Beijing amid escalating tensions over maritime disputes.
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The package includes 16 F-16C Block 70/72 aircraft and four F-16D Block 70/72 variants, along with an extensive array of equipment such as 24 engines, advanced radar systems, 112 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, 40 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, and a mix of 500-pound and 2,000-pound bombs, as well as targeting pods. This acquisition represents a generational leap for the Philippine Air Force, which has lacked a robust fighter jet fleet since retiring its aging Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighters in 2005. For decades, the Philippines has relied on lighter platforms like the Korean-made FA-50PH, a trainer-turned-light-attack jet that, while effective for counterinsurgency operations, falls short in range, payload, and advanced sensors needed for maritime deterrence and air defense missions. The F-16s, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will significantly boost Manila’s ability to conduct maritime domain awareness, provide close air support, and suppress enemy air defenses, aligning with its strategic shift toward external defense under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
The timing of this sale is notable, as it follows months of confrontations between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts expansive territorial claims despite a 2016 international ruling rejecting their legal basis. Incidents such as vessel ramming, skirmishes between coastguards, and Chinese jets firing flares at Philippine aircraft have heightened tensions, prompting Manila to bolster its military capabilities. The F-16 deal builds on previous U.S. support, including a $500 million military funding package announced in July 2024, and complements the Philippines’ broader “Horizon 3” modernization plan, which aims to acquire 40 fighter jets with a $33.6 billion budget. While the DSCA emphasized that the sale will not alter the regional military balance, it undeniably strengthens the Philippines’ position as a key U.S. ally in countering China’s assertiveness.
For Washington, this move reinforces its strategic partnership with Manila, a treaty ally since 1951, and enhances interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces. The deal, which awaits congressional review and Manila’s formal acceptance, also reflects a continuation of bipartisan U.S. policy to support the Philippines, bridging administrations from Biden to Trump. Critics may question the $279 million-per-jet price tag—nearing F-35 levels—but the inclusion of advanced weaponry, training, and support justifies the cost for a nation seeking to secure its vast archipelago of over 7,000 islands. As the Philippines prepares to integrate these jets, the sale sends an unmistakable signal to Beijing: the U.S.-Philippine alliance is deepening, poised to shape the security landscape of Southeast Asia for years to come.