THE U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of $2.43 billion (P118 billion) worth of fighter jets and military equipment to the Philippines.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Thursday, June 24, said that the Philippines requested to buy 10 F-16C Block 70/72 aircraft, two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft, 24 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) AIM-120C-7/C-8 or equivalent, and 48 LAU-129 missile launchers, among others.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South East Asia,” the agency said.
According to the DSCA, the proposed sale will improve the Philippines’ capability to meet current and future threats by enabling the Philippines to deploy fighter aircraft with precision munitions in support of counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines. It will also increase effectiveness and minimize collateral damage.
“The Philippines is committed to modernizing its military forces and will have no difficulty absorbing this aircraft and services into its armed forces,” it noted.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the agency added.
Lockheed Martin Corporation will be the principal contractor for the possible sale.
“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” the DSCA said.
“The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded,” it added.
In a separate statement, the DSCA also notified Congress of two other possible sales to the Philippines — a military package of 12 Harpoon Air Launched Block II Missiles and related equipment valued up to $120 million, and another package of 24 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles, 24 training missiles and spare parts for an estimated cost of $42.4 million.
The Philippines and the U.S. enjoy one of the oldest military alliances in the Asia Pacific.
Earlier this June, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte extended the abrogation of the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the U.S. for another six months.
The VFA, which came into force in 1999, covers the conduct of U.S. soldiers in the Philippines. Among the provisions of the deal include relaxed visa and passport policies for U.S. troops, and the rights of the U.S. government to retain its jurisdiction over its military personnel when they commit crimes in the Philippines.
In February 2020, the Philippines sent the U.S. a notice terminating the VFA reportedly after the U.S. canceled Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s visa.
The abrogation was later suspended in June “in light of political and other developments in the region,” and the suspension was extended in November for another six months to enable the Philippines and the U.S. to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in their mutual defense.
In November, the suspension was extended to “enable us to find a more enhanced, mutually beneficial, mutually agreeable, and more effective and lasting arrangement on how to move forward in our mutual defense,” according to Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (By Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)
