The Philippines’ potential procurement of the F-16 will elevate its ability to defend against threats.
American-Philippine defense ties continue to mount as geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea remain elevated. Last week, U.S. secretary of defense Pete Hegseth visited Manila to cement the Trump administration’s commitment to its treaty ally in the Pacific. At the same time, American warships joined their Japanese and Philippine counterparts in the South China Sea to conduct joint military drills and improve crisis readiness. Considering the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan, this nation arguably remains the most important Southeast Asian country when it comes to the U.S.-Chinese strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. officials are clearly taking the Philippines’ defense seriously, most recently approving the potential sale of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Manila, along with Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles. According to the Pentagon, this $2.5 billion deal covers sixteen F-16C Block 70/72 jets and four F-16B Block 70/72 fighters.
As part of the potential defense package, AESA radars, engines, and a litany of munitions including AIM-120C-8 missiles, Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-39B/Small Diameter Bombs, Block II Sidewinder missiles, and Mk-82 general purpose bombs could be delivered to Manila in the near future. As detailed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, “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.”
Introducing the F-16 Fighting Falcon
The fourth-generation F-16 platform may have been around for several decades, but the legendary aircraft continues to serve the U.S. Air Force and many other nations diligently. Designed during the Cold War as a supporting air superiority fighter to the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 quickly evolved to be viewed as a multirole jet. Manufacturer General Dynamics came up with the platform’s YF-16 prototype in the early 1970s and shortly after, the aircraft would be announced as the winner of the ACF competition. In addition to the aircraft’s lighter-weight configuration, the F-16 can fly in all weather conditions. In terms of range and firepower, the Fighting Falcon is deserving of its killer reputation. As boasted by the service, “In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point.”
Equipped with nine hardpoints for weapon payloads, the F-16 can lug a combination of Sidewinder, AMRAAMs, Raytheon Sparrows, and a whole host of other air-to-air missiles. Additionally, the F-16 can carry Shrike, Maverick, and HARM munitions. Perhaps most importantly, the F-16 has proven to be a highly capable fourth-generation fighter in combat. From Operation Desert Storm and the Osirak raid to the Balkans and Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya, the Fighting Falcon is a tried and trusted aircraft. The Philippines’ potential procurement of this platform will only elevate Manila’s ability to defend itself in the air against threats.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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