The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is open to acquiring Japanese fighter jets in the future, citing the assets' potential to enhance the country’s air capabilities.

While Japan’s Mitsubishi fighters are promising, PAF chief LtGen. Arthur Cordura, emphasized that their acquisition will depend on how effectively they align with the Philippines' broader defense strategy, specifically the assets' contributions to the country's implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).

"Mitsubishi fighters, the Japanese-made multi-roles (fighter aircraft), are also very potential platforms. The selection for the multi-role will depend upon the appreciation of the department in terms of how these are effectively incorporated in the whole CADC," Cordura told reporters during a press conference at the PAF headquarters, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday.

"So it does not discount later, perhaps, platforms coming also from Japan if they will serve the purpose of our territorial defense plan," he continued.

Cordura said the Japan-made MRFs are among the initial options considered in the PAF's modernization.

"These are amongst those initially considered given the nature of warfare that we are anticipating to be engaged in, that is, projection more asymmetric," he noted.

He also emphasized that the PAF is taking budget considerations into account for the potential purchase of these multi-role fighters.

The Department of National Defense recently received a notice to proceed for the acquisition of 12 FA-50 fighter jets.

According to Cordura, this new set of FA-50s is an upgrade of the PAF's existing FA-50 fleet.

Cordura said the PAF has already submitted its recommended assets for modernization, including the service's required specifications of the MRFs.

"All the recommendations the necessary information already with the department, so we're just awaiting guidance, the definite platform that later will be acquired," he said.

"Any platform from what we have recommended and what we have studied and researched on is a win-win, not only for the Philippine Air Force but for the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he added.

In July last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the AFP's intention to acquire MRFs for the PAF and to improve the country’s defense capabilities.

MRF is a multi-role combat aircraft used to attack enemy airplanes.