Falcon jets set for 2026 Phl delivery

The United States is preparing to deliver F-16 Falcon fighter jets to the Philippines by next year or 2027, should the planned acquisition proceed, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez announced on Sunday.

“This is all brand new [the fighter jets that the Philippines plans to buy from the US]. This block has been offered to us for a long time. It will be available for delivery sometime next year or in 2027,” Romualdez said during a radio interview.

Last week, the US State Department approved the sale of 20 F-16 aircraft and related equipment to the Philippines, with an estimated total value of $5.58 billion.

Romualdez stated that the terms for the potential sale, which would represent a significant upgrade to the country’s defense capabilities amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, are still under negotiation.

“This is an offer from the US. They’ve been offering this to us for a long time, but now, it has been approved by the US Congress. There is also financing included if we decide to take it,” he explained.

“So, there’s an offer of financing, but we still don’t know because we need to talk to the DND (Department of National Defense) and the [Philippine] Air Force to see if the terms are favorable and if we will be able to afford them.”

The final decision on the purchase will depend on approval from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philippine Congress.

For Romualdez, the acquisition of these aircraft will help modernize the country’s armed forces and is in line with the deterrence strategy of the Trump administration.

“The Trump administration wants deterrence through strength. The Philippines is one of their major allies. They want to be able to help the Philippines achieve its purpose of modernizing its Armed Forces so that we can show that we have a deterrence factor,” he said.

‘Iron Dome’

In addition to the fighter jets, Romualdez also revealed that the Philippines is seeking to acquire Typhon medium-range missiles, similar to those deployed by the US in the region. He also mentioned that the country is aspiring to develop a robust air defense system, similar to Israel’s Iron Dome.

“What [Defense] Secretary [Gilberto] Teodoro really wants is that we are hoping to buy Typhon medium-range missiles. Because they are land-based, and that would be very good for our defense. Our aspiration is to have an Iron Dome like the one in Israel,” Romualdez said.

“We will do this gradually because we are serious about the AFP modernization program. It’s about time that we bring our Armed Forces up to speed,” he added.

Teodoro had previously discussed the country’s plan to acquire its own Typhon mid-range missile system, despite opposition from China, which has demanded the withdrawal of missile systems from the South China Sea. China argues that the region needs peace and prosperity, not intermediate-range missiles and confrontation.

It also criticized Manila for relying on others for its national security and defense, claiming it exacerbates geopolitical tensions in the region.

Last month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced that it is “ready” to welcome the deployment of a second Typhon mid-range missile system in the country. This announcement followed the inaugural visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who assured Manila of the Trump administration’s support in addressing China’s aggression in the South China Sea.