No Cause for Alarm, Manila Tells Beijing Amid US$5.6 Billion F-16 Fighter Potential Deal
The reassurance was delivered as Manila seeks to bolster its military modernisation programme, viewing the Lockheed Martin-manufactured multirole jets as essential to upgrading its national airpower, not a platform for confrontation.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Philippine government has asserted that its prospective acquisition of U.S.-made F-16 fighter aircraft will not endanger the interests of any third party, including China, despite rising tensions between the two powers in the South China Sea.
The reassurance was delivered as Manila seeks to bolster its military modernisation programme, viewing the Lockheed Martin-manufactured multirole jets as essential to upgrading its national airpower, not a platform for confrontation.
“We wish to assure the People’s Republic of China that the (potential) acquisition of the F-16 fighter jets does not threaten the interests of any third party,” National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told reporters during a media briefing.
The comments came shortly after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress that the State Department had given the green light for a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines.
With an estimated price tag of US$5.58 billion (RM26.4 billion), the proposed package underscores Washington’s intent to deepen defence cooperation with Southeast Asian allies as China’s assertiveness in the region shows no sign of waning.
The deal includes 16 of the latest F-16C Block 70/72 variants and four F-16B twin-seat Block 70/72 aircraft, the most technologically advanced models in the Fighting Falcon lineage, boasting improved avionics, radar, and extended service life.
The F-16 Block 70/72s are equipped with Northrop Grumman’s cutting-edge APG-83 AESA radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, and precision weapon capabilities, giving them a decisive edge in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
F-16
The timing of the DSCA notification, issued just days after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Manila, reflects the Biden administration’s broader strategic push to re-anchor American military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
During his trip, Hegseth vowed to “restore deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” a pointed reference to what he described as the growing threat posed by “Communist China,” amid a regional security climate shaped increasingly by Cold War-style brinkmanship.
The sale, while provisionally approved, remains subject to finalisation, with the number of aircraft and overall contract value potentially evolving as negotiations continue between the two governments.
Under U.S. law, Congress now has 30 days to object to the sale, though historical precedent shows that formal objections to FMS cases—especially those involving treaty allies—are extremely rare.
“The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a regional partner that is a force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia,” the DSCA stated.
The DSCA also noted that the acquisition would dramatically enhance the Philippine Air Force’s capacity for maritime domain awareness, close air support, tactical strike missions, and Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD)—a critical capability in contested airspace scenarios.
“The sale will also improve the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capacity to defend its sovereign territory and strategic interests, while deepening its interoperability with U.S. forces,” the agency added, highlighting its strategic weight.
The comprehensive package includes 24 engines, likely General Electric F110-GE-129s or Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229s, providing a significant thrust-to-weight advantage for agile combat operations across vast maritime theatres.
It also features 22 AESA radars, providing superior target detection, electronic warfare resilience, and multi-target engagement capabilities—essential attributes for operating in the radar-saturated environments of the Western Pacific.
The weapon suite is formidable, comprising 112 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, the latest extended-range variant of the U.S.’ premier beyond-visual-range missile, giving the Philippine Air Force significant air superiority punch.
The package also includes 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinders for high off-boresight short-range engagements, and 32 captive training missiles to enhance pilot proficiency and simulate real-world combat environments.
Precision strike capabilities are bolstered by 36 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-1), enabling stealthy and accurate attacks against high-value targets with minimal collateral damage.
Also included are 60 Mk-82 500-lb and 60 Mk-84 2,000-lb general-purpose bombs, offering flexibility for both precision and saturation bombing operations in conventional conflict scenarios.
The F-16s will be outfitted with 12 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods, which provide long-range target detection, identification, and laser designation for precision-guided munitions in both day and night operations.
To ensure secure and coordinated data sharing, the package includes 24 MIDS-JTRS (Multifunctional Information Distribution System–Joint Tactical Radio Systems), a cornerstone for network-centric warfare and joint operations with U.S. and allied forces.
Electronic survivability is boosted by the inclusion of the AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield suite, designed to counter emerging air defence threats through advanced jamming and deception capabilities.
Other key systems in the deal include Infrared Search and Track (IRST), Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI), and Maverick missile launchers (LAU-117 and LAU-88), significantly expanding the aircraft’s multi-role utility.
Strategically, the sale fits squarely within the legacy of the U.S. Pivot to Asia, a doctrine championed by the Trump administration to rebalance American force projection toward the Indo-Pacific and counterbalance China’s rise, especially amid Taiwan Strait tensions.
F-16 Block 70
The Philippines, a U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty ally since 1951, has seen its maritime confrontations with China intensify, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels have harassed Filipino resupply missions and patrols.
China continues to claim nearly the entire South China Sea under its “Nine-Dash Line” narrative, despite a landmark 2016 international arbitration ruling that declared its expansive claims legally invalid—a verdict Beijing has flatly rejected.
According to the State Department, the proposed sale will only proceed once the Philippines signs and returns a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), a standard procedural step under FMS regulations.
Philippine Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong told AFP that his office “has not yet received any official communication regarding the decision.”