By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The United States State Department has approved the potential foreign military sale of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines for approximately $5.58 billion.
In a statement Wednesday (Manila time), the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the Philippine government has requested to buy 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter jets and four F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft.
“The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today,” it added.
The proposed sale, it said, will enhance the Philippine Air Force’s ability to conduct maritime domain awareness and close air support missions and enhance its suppression of enemy air defenses and aerial interdiction capabilities.
The sale, once made, will 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.
“The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the DSCA added.
Aside from the fighter jets, the package includes 24 F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 engines (20 installed, four spares); 22 improved programmable display generators (20 installed, two spares); 22 AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array scalable agile beam radars (20 installed, two spares); 22 modular mission computers 7000AH (or available mission computer) (20 installed, two spares); and 22 embedded Global Positioning System inertial navigation systems with selective availability anti-spoofing module or M-Code capability and precise positioning service (20 installed, two spares).
The package also includes assorted weapons systems and launchers, guns, air-to-air missiles, bombs, sensor, targeting equipment, electronic countermeasure systems, spare parts, technical support aside from simulators and training devices.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States 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,” the statement read.
Department of National Defense spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the agency has yet to receive “any official notice” on the matter.