Lockheed Martin ready to provide F-16 jets to Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — One of America’s leading defense and aerospace manufacturers has expressed readiness to provide brand new F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Lockheed Martin said the US State Department’s recent approval of the proposed sale of 20 F-16 Block 70 aircraft to the Philippines marks a significant milestone in efforts to modernize Philippine air power capabilities. 

The company noted that the F-16 Block 70 is a highly advanced and proven platform for air-to-air defense and air-to-ground support, with advanced technology and mission systems, including the life-saving Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System.

Lockheed noted that the F-16 has a proven track record of reliability, versatility and effectiveness, with over 3,100 aircraft operating in 28 countries and just recently, the fighter plane participated in the Cope Thunder joint exercises between Philippine and US troops at Clark Air Base, Pampanga demonstrating its capabilities and interoperability with the Philippine Air Force (PAF). 

The company said the exercise showcased the F-16’s ability to operate in a complex and dynamic environment, and its effectiveness in enhancing the combat readiness of air forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to support the Philippines’ efforts to modernize its air power capabilities with the F-16 Block 70,” Lockheed Martin F-16 business development vice president Aimee Burnett said. 

Lockheed pointed out that the F-16 seamlessly integrates into the PAF’s fleet, citing commonality with the PAF’s FA-50 fighter jets in terms of support equipment, driving affordability and pilot readiness. 

The company added that the F-16 can be maintained and supported locally, with the PAF having the capability to ensure its F-16 fleet remains operational and ready, further enhancing self-reliance.

Asked earlier this week on the AFP’s plan to acquire F-16 fighter jets from the US, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said the department is still waiting for a formal offer and proposal on the possible acquisition.

“No formal offer or proposal yet,” he said following an announcement earlier this month that the US has approved the sale of 20 fighter planes valued at $5.58 billion to the Philippines.

‘A dangerous escalation’

 Bayan Muna party-list said yesterday that the P21-billion ($375-million) BrahMos missile deal, initiated by the Duterte administration and now being implemented by the Marcos administration, is a “reckless venture that drag(s) the country into a dangerous arms race in the already volatile Asia-Pacific region.” 

“This deal does not strengthen our security – it worsens tensions and wastes public funds that should be spent on housing, jobs and social services,” Bayan Muna executive vice president and former House deputy minority leader Carlos Zarate said.  

“The Marcos administration must reverse this militarist track before it’s too late,” he added.

Zarate said that instead of addressing the country’s staggering housing backlog, “the government is callously squandering billions on weapons that do nothing to feed, shelter or uplift our people.” 

“This P21 billion could have built at least 14,500 low-cost homes for informal settlers and families living in danger zones – yet the government chose bombs over basic needs,” he said

 Zarate said that while millions of Filipinos “sleep under bridges and in flood-prone shanties, the government buys weapons that only serve to escalate regional conflicts.” 

“This is not defense. This is warmongering at the people’s expense,” he added. 

Citing a UN-Habitat report, Zarate warned that the Philippines’ housing crisis is set to explode from 6.5 million units needed today to 22 million by 2040, with 3.7 million informal settler families struggling for shelter – half a million of whom endure slums and high-risk areas in Metro Manila alone.  

Zarate warned that the BrahMos deal “only adds to the volatility and tension in the Asia-Pacific, increasing the risk of confrontation rather than promoting peace.” 

“We demand that President Marcos Jr. halt this deal and redirect funds toward real security – housing, jobs and social welfare,” he further said.  — Jose Rodel Clapano