The US Department of Defense has approved the potential sale of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, worth $5.58 billion. The proposed sale includes 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter jets and four F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft.

This development was welcomed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla acknowledging the significant boost it would provide to the country’s military modernization.

According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the notification was sent to Congress on Wednesday (Manila time), marking the first step in the approval process.

The agency highlighted that the sale would not only strengthen the Philippine military’s capabilities but also improve its ability to defend vital interests and territory.

The deal is intended to enhance maritime domain awareness, support suppression of enemy air defenses, and expand interoperability between the Philippine and US forces.

The AFP expressed its appreciation for the US’s commitment to supporting the Philippine military’s modernization.

“Anything that will modernize us and propel us to greater heights with our assets, we gratefully welcome,” Padilla said.

However, she noted that further details regarding the acquisition of military assets would be provided by the Department of National Defense.