Philippines F-16 Purchase: US Approves $5.58-B
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APRIL 04,2025
Modern Air Power to Boost PH Security Amid Indo-Pacific Tensions
F-16s to Strengthen Philippine Air Force and US Alliance
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines F-16 purchase has moved a step forward after the United States approved a $5.58-billion (P319-billion) arms deal that includes 20 new fighter jets. The move supports the country’s military modernization and highlights stronger US-Philippine defense ties.
On April 1, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the State Department’s approval of the sale. The deal includes 16 F-16C and four F-16D Block aircraft, radar systems, missile launchers, precision bombs, and air defense tools.
DSCA said it has submitted the required certification to the US Congress to move the process along.
US Reaffirms Support for the Philippines
The announcement came just days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manila. During his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., he assured them of America’s “ironclad” commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
Hegseth emphasized the need for greater strength and deterrence, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where tensions with China continue to grow.
How the Philippines Benefits from the F-16s
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will use the F-16s for maritime patrols, close air support, aerial defense, and enemy suppression missions. These modern jets will help the country respond more effectively to threats in its airspace and territorial waters.
“This sale improves national defense and expands cooperation with US forces,” DSCA said.
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.
The agency confirmed that the AFP has the capacity to absorb the new systems and use them effectively.
Financing Still in the Works
Although the US approved the deal, funding arrangements are still being finalized. Under the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) program, countries can use their own funds or request **US-backed grants, loans, NOWTREND
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