US fighter jets may be delivered to PH by 2026 or 2027 —Amb. Romualdez

The F-16 fighter-jets that the Philippine government plans to procure from the United States may be available for delivery in tranches starting next year at the earliest, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Sunday.

The ambassador was referring to the 20 “brand-new” F-16 fighter jets and other defense equipment, for which the Philippines plans to seek a long-term loan from Washington in order to acquire. This came after the US approved a sale of $5.58 billion in fighter-jets to the Philippines.

“Ito, bago lahat ito… Merong by block ‘yan eh. Itong block nito, matagal nang ino-offer sa atin ito. These will be available for delivery some time next year or 2027, the succeeding ones,” Romualdez said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(All of these are new. The US has been offering us this block for a long time. These will be available for delivery some time next year or 2027, the succeeding ones.)

“So depende 'yan sa terms, kung affordable sa atin, at saka in-approve ng ating Kongreso at ng Presidente, e di magkakaroon tayo ng F-16s. But that is an offer as part of our AFP modernization program,” he added.

(We can have our own F-16s depending on the terms, if they’re affordable for us, and if they would be approved by the Congress and the President. But that is an offer as part of our AFP modernization program.)

The F-16 fighter jets are potentially the most ambitious and most expensive acquisition by the Philippines under its military modernization program, which has been delayed by a lack of funds.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, said that the Philippines is set to procure more missile systems, fighter jets, and warships amid its plan to build a more "reliable deterrent force.”

China

Moreover, Romualdez admitted that China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea is also one of the reasons why the Philippines wants to modernize its armed forces and procure fighter jets.

“Well, kasama na ‘yan kasi siyempre. ‘Yan ang biggest challenge ngayon, ‘yung china-challenge ‘yung ating territorial integrity and sovereignty natin. So, that is the reason why we are now really working at getting our Air Force and Armed Forces to be modernized para maski papaano, we can defend ourselves,” the ambassador said.

(Well, China is also a factor. Of course, our biggest challenge now is that our territorial integrity and sovereignty is being challenged. That is the reason why we are now really working at getting our Air Force and Armed Forces to be modernized so that we can defend ourselves somehow.)

The National Security Council (NSC) said Thursday that the planned procurement of fighter jets is not intended for any country but a part of the Philippine military's modernization program.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin had also said that the fighter jets are not for a specific target or state.

The AFP, meanwhile, said that the modernization efforts will allow the Philippines to confront emerging threats and safeguard the nation's maritime and aerial domains through strategic capability-building. —KG, GMA Integrated News