The Philippines also needs to acquire an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft aside from procuring multi-role fighter (MRF) jets to strengthen the country's air capabilities, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said, emphasizing the need for a full force package for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Teodoro, in a recent press conference in Makati City, stressed that having MRFs alone will not be enough to deter threats, unless accompanied by radar surveillance, refueling, and munitions support.

"We are still evaluating proposals. It is not only the purchase of the MRF per se which we need to deal with, but also to make the MRFs operational as a force package," Teodoro told reporters.

He then cited the lessons from other countries that have realized the inadequacy of relying solely on satellite technology.

"It's easy to buy, but to maintain and to use the equipment with adequate stores, reserves, and munitions, which will add considerably to the cost of the package, must be all taken into account," he explained.

Teodoro stressed the need to acquire air defense systems whose optimal use can be relevant to military operations.

“So, if you notice in the MRF package, we have increased the force size. We will not buy equipment that will not make a difference, which will not add to deterrence," he said.

AWACS aircraft serve as airborne radar stations and command centers, providing long-range surveillance, battle management, and control of air and maritime operations.

Equipped with powerful radar housed in a rotating dome, they can detect and track targets across vast distances, including at low altitudes and in all weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Teodoro pointed out that tankers and munitions reserves must be included in the acquisition, with costs factored into long-term defense budgets.

"If equipment per se needs support equipment, we will also have to put aside funds for that," he said.

The defense chief revealed that syndicated loans are being considered to finance the MRF and support system purchases, with repayments spread over several years.

"We have to have the consensus of the finance department and the legislature that they will spend annually for adequate sustainment of these platforms so that they will not be displaced at the gates of an airbase," he said.

Teodoro said the annual funding for sustainment must be guaranteed by both the Department of Finance (DOF) and Congress.

"These are very real considerations. I know the expectations of our people, but it is my responsibility to make sure that each peso spent can be supported and justified," he said.

Talks are ongoing between the Department of National Defense, DOF, and the Department of Budget and Management to secure long-term funding.

In 2023, Philippine officials visited Sweden’s Saab facilities to inspect potential AWACS options, including the Saab 340 platform, although no deal has been finalized yet.

Teodoro likewise underscored that any major procurement must consider sustainability, stressing that the government does not want to end up with aircraft flying only in air shows.

"What we do not want is to buy, have orders, have deliveries, and not being able to use them for their optimal use and just have them flying airshows. That we will not countenance," he said.