First flown in the 1970s, the F-16 is still heavily relied upon, particularly among smaller militaries without the resources to fly and maintain larger and more expensive planes such as the F-15 Eagle.
The U.S. Department of State recently approved a potential sale of twenty F-16 fighters to the Philippines, collectively worth about $5.58 billion. The proposed sale, which includes 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighters and four F-16B Block 70/72 fighters, comes only days after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Manilla, promising to strengthen defense ties between the two nations.
The F-16 Sale Is a Sign of Strong U.S.-Philippine Ties
Last year, after months of discussion, the United States sent F-16 fighters to Ukraine in an effort to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses against the Russian invasion. The F-16, long the multirole workhorse of the U.S. Air Force, is a viable export option, in that it is relatively cheap and does not contain as much cutting-edge—and therefore sensitive—technology as newer jets such as the F-35.
As with Ukraine, where the F-16 was donated in an effort to counter Russian abilities in the European theater, the F-16 will be sent to the Philippines in an effort to counter Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. China has been working hard to augment its own aerial capabilities, with new aircraft like the Chengdu J-20, and potentially forthcoming aircraft like the Xi’an H-20 strategic bomber and the J-XX tactical bomber, leaving the U.S. anxious about its own aerial capabilities in the region. By selling F-16s to the Philippines, the United States can augment the capability of its allies—and help to ensure regional stability even if its own attention is drawn elsewhere.
“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 Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) website stated.
The 50-Year-Old Fighting Falcon Is Still Sought After
In addition to the fighters, the overall package is reported to include “24 engines, 22 AESA radars, and a host of internal systems,” according to Breaking Defense. “It also comes with a collection of munitions: 112 AIM-120C-8 or equivalent missiles, 36 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-39/B Small Diameter Bombs Increment 1 (SDB-1); 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles, 32 AIM-9X Bloc II Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); 60 MK-82 500-lb general purpose bombs; and 60 MK-84 2,000-lb general purpose bombs, plus associated equipment.”
That’s a lot of firepower headed to the Philippines. But the centerpiece of the deal is unquestionably the F-16 itself. The fourth-generation fighter has proven itself adept in a variety of roles, including air superiority, ground attack, close air support, and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD).
First flown in the 1970s, the F-16 is still heavily relied upon, particularly among smaller militaries without the resources to fly and maintain larger and more expensive planes such as the F-15 Eagle. The plane is still the backbone of the U.S. Air Force as well. And while the F-16 is outdated with respect to its stealth technology—it has none—it is still valuable on defensive terms or in secured air space.
For the Philippines, the F-16s will enhance the country’s ability to “conduct maritime domain awareness and close air support missions,” the DSCA stated. And the sale will “expand interoperability with U.S. forces”—helping to keep the U.S.-Philippine alliance strong.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / twintyre.
