New F-16 jets may arrive next year

A joint pre-flight and actual flight operations exercise that involve both FA-50 and F-16 aircraft during the Cope Thunder 23-1, a bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States, with the primary flight operations at Clark Air Base, Pampanga. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER

The F-16 fighter jets that the Philippine government plans to procure from the United States may be available for delivery starting next year at the soonest, if it decides to avail of the offer, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Sunday.

The US State Department last week approved the potential sale of 20 F-16C/D Block 70/72 fighters and munitions to the Philippines for an estimated cost of $5.58 billion (or around P320 billion), just several days after a visit by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Romualdez said the offer came with a financing package that has yet to be discussed between the United States and officials from the Department of National Defense and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The PAF is currently using 11 South Korean-built light combat aircraft after it retired its remaining fighters in 2005 because they were too costly to maintain.