The United States Department of State has approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets in the latest Block 70/72 configuration to the Philippines. The information was released by the official website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), responsible for U.S. foreign military sales.
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The deal includes the acquisition of 16 F-16C combat aircraft and 4 F-16D combat training aircraft, as requested by the Philippine government. The agreement represents a major boost to the Southeast Asian nation’s air combat capabilities, with an estimated cost of $5.5 billion.
In addition to the aircraft, the approved package includes:
- 24 F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 engines (20 installed + 4 spares);
- 22 AN/APG-83 SABR radars (20 installed + 2 spares);
- 22 iPDG oscillators, modular mission computers, and navigation systems;
- 20 M61A1 cannons (plus 2 spares);
- 12 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper advanced targeting pods;
- 112 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range missiles;
- 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles;
- 60 Mk.82 and 60 Mk.84 general-purpose bombs, along with 30 precision JDAM kits;
- 6 GBU-39/B small diameter bombs.
The package also includes AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare systems, helmet-mounted targeting systems, optical sensors, and a wide range of associated support equipment.
Expansion of the Philippine Air Force
With this new acquisition, the Philippines will be able to create a second fighter squadron, expanding its current air operational capability, which is currently centered around the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, equipped with South Korean-made FA-50PH light fighter jets.
The FA-50 aircraft were acquired in 2014 through a $420 million contract involving 12 units. The first two jets were delivered in 2015, and the full order was completed by 2017. The FA-50PH marked the Philippine Air Force’s return to jet-powered combat aircraft after the retirement of the F-5A/B Freedom Fighters in 2005.
Currently, the FA-50s are used for combat training, patrols, and strike missions, particularly in counter-insurgency operations.
F-16D also delivered to Taiwan
Recently, Lockheed Martin unveiled the first F-16D Block 70 combat trainer for the Taiwanese Air Force. The aircraft bears the insignia of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and tail number “6831”, marking a new chapter in U.S. strategic partnerships in Asia.
Sources and images: militarnyi.com / dsca.mil / Lockheed Martin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.