A few days after the visit of US Defense Secretary, Beit Higseth, the Philippines, Washington has cleared the sale of 20 F-16 to the country.
The US State Department approved foreign military sale (FMS) to the Philippines for a period of 20 F-16 Block 70/72 Jets Fighter. This development comes just a few days after the visit of US Defense Secretary Beit Higseth in the Philippines amid increasing tensions with China and the need to enhance deterrence position, as well as strengthen allies and regional partners.
This has also been observed in Notice DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency): “This proposed sale will support foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that still represents an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in Southeast Asia.”
This is not the first time that the F-16 FMS permit for the Philippines, as it had already happened in 2021. On that occasion, the deal did not pass because the Philippines had only allocated $ 1.1 billion to purchases, which amounted to $ 2.43 billion and included 12 aircraft.
FMS
The value of the deal is $ 5.58 billion and will include 16 F-16C Block 70/72 and four Jets F-16D Block 70/72, which will be operated either by F110-IGE-129D (Block 70) or F100-PW-229 (Block 72). FMS notification includes a list of non -MDE elements (the main defense equipment) that will be included, such as safe connections, parts parts, testing devices and various support equipment.
The AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Advanced will target, AIM-120C-8 or its equivalent and AIM-9x Sidewinder Air-Air missiles, GBU-39/b small bombsMK-82 500-LB and MK-84 2,000 pounds of bombs for general purposes, with joint direct attack ammunition groups (JDAM) to convert to GBU-38 or Laser JDAM GBU-54 as well as GBU-50 Paveway II Laser. The AGM-65 MAVECK will also be available for F-16, although Lau-117 and Lau-88 are only necessary to be included in FMS as the weapon is already in the Philippines.
In addition to the choice between mass 70 and Block 72, FMS is also left to the Philippines, choosing screens on the helmet, either the Hobit visual self -insufficiency devices or Cueing Cueing systems that fix the II (JHMCS II) helmet. Since the plane was newly built, it is likely to come with the Martin-Baker Us18E instead of Collens Aces II. FMS also includes the new AN/alq-254 viper Shield Electronic War Suite (EW) or unlimited equivalent systems.
“The proposed sale will enhance the ability of the Philippine Air Force to make awareness of the maritime field and close air support missions and enhance their repression from enemy air defenses (SEAD) and air accreditation capabilities.” “This sale will increase the ability of the Philippines armed forces to protect interests and vital lands, as well as expand the capacity of inter -operation with the American forces.”
The return of the Philippines
The Philippines are located in the middle of a series of purchases to strengthen its ranks amid the ongoing tensions in the Western Philippine Sea. In fact, the ongoing clashes between the Chinese Coast Guard and the Philippines were reported when the latter runs the supplies of Sierra Madry, which is now working as an external focus.
Earlier this year, it is reported that the country is considering obtaining 12 Kai Fa-50 Fighting Lite Eagle FightersDouble her current fleet. Likewise, in December 2024, the Philippines decided to purchase an additional six A-29B Super ToucansAlso double this fleet.
Other current defense programs involve updating the country’s electronic infrastructure, acquiring new air defense systems, and unlimited additional upgrades for the incoming Miguel Malfar cars. The F-16s will replace the F-5A/B fleet, which retired in the country in 2005, and is the last of the front lines fighting.
Last year, Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Tudoro said that the country agreed to a new plan called “Horizon 3”, which expects 40 fighter aircraft with a budget of $ 33.6 billion in a huge batch to modernize the army. Although the plan is still subject to the approval of Congress, 20 F-16s may be the first batch of these forty new fighters.
F-16 mass 70/72
The F-16 Block 70/72 is the most advanced production snake, which was newly built instead of F-16V that was promoted to the aircraft to the same configuration. So far, six countries Choose the F-16 Block 70/72 And Lucheid Martin has a production accumulation of 117 aircraft, as of February 2025.
Among the new systems installed during the upgrade, we can find APG-83 Noisa (Active Electronic Lail) Radar, New Central Base Rules (CPD), AN/APX-126 Advanced iff (ID or enemy), Link 16 Datalink, full NVIS (night photography system) and JHCMS II (common corpse system). System of fraud, high -speed data bus Auto GCAS.
Colonel Thomas Oberchta, commander of the 162nd Operations Group, said when the first Block F-16 70 arrived at “Thomas Obourchta, commander of the 162 operations group, when the first Block F-16 70 arrived at” Thomas Obourchta “, commander of the operations group 162, when the first B-16 70 block reached” Thomas Obourchta “: The F-16 Block 70 is the latest version of one of the most fighter fighters that have proven its use in all times. ” Arizona Ang 162 wing. “The APG-83, the electronic advanced APG-83, includes [AESA] Fire control radar, which is a high-resolution central bubbed, which provides decisive tactical images of pilots and allows them to fully benefit from ASA, target POD data, advanced weapons, and a 12,000-hour structural life-more than 50 percent of the previous F-16 production plane. “
the APG-83 Radio Radd (SABR), developed by Northrop Grumman, is the AESA radar (an active, electronic, active array) designed to fit F-16 without structural adjustments, strength or cooling; In addition, it enables F-16 to discover, track and define more goals (more than 20 at the same time) faster and longer with longer domains while providing the appointment of high-resolution artificial aperture radar (SAR). The system also merged strong electronic protection to work in hostile electronic environments.
Block 70 features a new cockpit concept, with a CPD base display (CPD), which provides a pilot with important tactical data on a high -resolution screen 6’x8 ‘. The new screen allows the pilots to take full advantage of the new radar Targeting POD dataIncluding a new color transfer map, larger and easier representation of air circumstantial shows to air with zoom functions and finally, not the least ability to switch information between screens.