The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has not made a final decision on acquiring 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Monday, but emphasized that all options are being explored in the country’s ongoing procurement of multi-role fighter (MRF) aircraft.

“Well, we’re studying all of our options. But definitely, we want to buy multi-role fighters because we need multi-role fighters to defend our country, whether these are the F-16s or the Gripen or other multi-role fighters — we’re just studying them,” Brawner said during an ambush interview after the 49th anniversary of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle” Division in Tanay, Rizal.

Earlier this month, the US Department of State approved the potential foreign military sale of 20 F-16 jets to the Philippines, valued at $5.58 billion.

“We’re happy that the US Congress approved the sale of 20 F-16s to the Philippines. But there is no final decision yet,” Brawner said. “Hopefully, we will be able to expedite the acquisition of these assets because they are very important.”

Brawner also confirmed that the procurement of an additional 12 FA-50 fighter jets is already in progress.

“Acquiring more FA-50s is more feasible because it’s already in the pipeline,” he said. “But as for the multi-role fighters, we’re still determining which ones we can afford based on our fiscal capacity.”

Malacañang earlier welcomed the US approval, stating that it reflects efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ defense posture. However, it added that specific terms for the planned acquisition are still being finalized.

The F-16s are known for their speed, agility and versatility, capable of executing a variety of missions including air-to-air combat, ground attacks and strategic interdiction.