The U.S. government has authorized the possible sale of 20 new F-16C/D Block 70/72 fighters to equip the Philippine Air Force. This is according to one of the latest notifications from the Department of State sent to the U.S. Congress for approval of the operation, valued at over $5 billion through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
Over the past few years, the Philippines has been planning and evaluating various initiatives to renew part of its combat fleet. According to reports, military and ministerial authorities have a requirement for the acquisition of a total of 40 new fighter aircraft.
In response to this requirement, various countries such as South Korea, Sweden, and the United States have submitted proposals through KAI, Saab, and Lockheed Martin, respectively, offering the Philippine Air Force the new KF-21 Boramae, Gripen E, and F-16 Block 70.
Through a statement published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on April 1, further details of the U.S. proposal authorized by the State Department to equip the Philippine Air Force were disclosed.
The operation is valued at $5.58 billion and includes the provision of a total of 20 new F-16 Block 70/72 fighters, of which 16 correspond to the F-16C (single-seat) version and 4 to the F-16D (twin-seat) variant. The extensive package includes the provision of F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 engines (20 installed and 4 spare), along with AN/APG-83 AESA radars (20 installed and 2 spare), in addition to all necessary avionics and subsystems for the aircraft.
In addition to the aircraft and their various components corresponding to the new Block 70/72—or F-16V, according to Lockheed Martin—the U.S. has also authorized the provision of a comprehensive weapons package, including:
- 88 LAU-129 missile launcher rails.
- 22 M61A1 Vulcan cannons (20 installed, 2 spare).
- 12 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP).
- 112 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles or equivalent.
- 36 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs Increment 1 (SDB-1).
- 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles.
- 60 MK-82 500-pound general-purpose bombs.
- 60 MK-84 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs.
- 30 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for GBU-38 or Laser JDAM GBU-54.
- 60 FMU-152 fuse systems.
The package also includes the necessary support equipment, logistical sustainment, various types of captive training missiles, and guidance sections for the missiles.
The Department of State has emphasized that: “The proposed sale 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 (SEAD) and aerial interdiction capabilities. This sale will also increase the ability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to protect vital interests and territory, as well as expand interoperability with the U.S. forces. The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
Author: Redacción
Source: For over $5 billion, the U.S. authorizes the sale of new F-16C/D Block 70/72 fighters for the Philippine Air Force
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