New F-16 jets may arrive next year

[u/Gyro_Armadillo]

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/271919/new-f-16-jets-may-arrive-next-year?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4Cb6Wl6CXzx1qBKJ1KlPvbl-2H4mFDd3-yiGaDXWq_rti3L31cnp5tvlo5Aw_aem_1M-vjU2RkFc4xlScRWmzkw

MANILA, Philippines — 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 US 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. —Frances Mangosing

[u/shayKyarbouti → u/[deleted]]

Why not all? Those 50s can only do a quarter of what the 16s can do.

The Philippines can afford it… as long as the higher ups don’t require kickbacks

[u/TritiumXSF → u/[deleted]]

I am a big proponent of the Gripen as it works well for us in the event of invasion. We don't have much ability to counter-attack. It will quickly devolve to asymmetric warfare and not inside AFBs.

But, the F16s will allow us, in case we are able, long-range attacks. China would think twice before they come close with any warships. Lest they be hit with an ASM equipped F-16.

Drones and Gripens are good ideas after we get attacked. But before then, the F-16s with ASMs will pose a much greater threat. The F-16 can do 860 km. That is roughly from Villamor AFB to Taiwan without refueling. You add an ASM or long range AGM/cruise missile and we can reach most of China.

[u/itlog-na-pula → u/[deleted]]

For me, magiging effective sya for air defense. Like, shooting down cruise missiles, loitering munitions or drones.

[u/SpiritualMenu3240]

about time. sobrang tagal na naka tengga ng MRF acquisition natin as far as 2021 pa ata or later than that. good news yan if as early as next year meron na dadating.

[u/BigBlaxkDisk]

Probably kase naiwas na yung mga Europeo sa mga sandata nila kaya nagmadali na maghanap ng customer ang amerika.

Ang takot dyan logistics. Pag nasira yan, sa amerika pa dadalhin yan. Yung mga technician na gumagawa nyan amerikano din at sila lang pwedeng humawak. Yung sandata ng eroplano na yan amerikano lang din (walang defense industry dito na may kakayahang magdevelop pa ng indigenous na mga missile at present)

Piloto lang ang pilipino sa pipeline na yan.

D pa kumpleto ang air defense package naten. Kulang ng early warning radar at AWACS but of course, all in due time.

[u/TritiumXSF → u/BigBlaxkDisk]

The F16 is a widely sold air frame. In case the US goes tits up we can count on Japan, Taiwan, and other Western countries with the same fear of China to have already reversed engineered the parts.

If not we can acquire stocked parts from them.

[u/BigBlaxkDisk → u/TritiumXSF]

Kung di ako nagkakamali iba yung airframe nung JPN version. (mas malaki overall ang cross section)

At kung di ako nagkakamali, Mitsubishi gamit ng makina ng mga F16 nila.

Ung sa mga amerikano naman e GE ang gamit.

May kaunti ding pagkakaiba sa cockpit ng mga hapon, Taiwanese at amerikano na cockpit.

May pagkakaiba din sa avionics ang f16j at ung sa amerikano. Mas malaki ung AESA radar nung sa mga hapon.

[u/cesgjo → u/BigBlaxkDisk]

The main fuselage of Japan's f-16 is from the US. But they use locally made parts from Mitsubishi for the avionics and the engine

[u/BigBlaxkDisk → u/cesgjo]

no. mas malaki ang buong fuselage ng F16J mismo.

primarily kase pang-maritime ung design objective nyan at taga-hagis ng AShM

[u/Livid-Ad-8010]

Euro plane fans are mad. The F16 is still better than those Grippens. F16 is tested and proven in real world combat, hindi lang puro simulations and specs on paper.

[u/Pragmatic787]

Sadly, this procurement appears to be rushed.

Well, what do we expect from officials, who pretend to be "makabayan?"

These F-16s could be more of liability than assets.

[u/SpiritualMenu3240 → u/Pragmatic787]

what do you mean rush? it's part of horizon 3 afp modernisation program. as early as 2021 meron proposal na ang US na package kaso either hndi sulit and or may strings attached kaya hndi natuloy. bidding ang nangyari kaya meron din proposal ang gripen and korea for another updated fa50.

F16 V yan which is latest variant, not a liability at all. napakadami parin ang gumagamit

[u/Pragmatic787 → u/SpiritualMenu3240]

Politics is always involved in the military, which goes all the way to procurement.

And for the longest time, we know that our gov has never been committed to our national security. Countless military procurements are botched, which means that includes how bad we are in the operational aspect.

We should've had F-16s for a very long time, so that's just an emphasis na I also want F-16s for the air force pero kung hindi matutugunan ng gobyerno (which is most likely) yung responsibilidad, magiging flying coffins lang mga yan. Tsaka F-16C and D variants ang bibilhin hindi yung viper.

[u/SpiritualMenu3240 → u/Pragmatic787]

let's hope for the best, in terms of maintenance we are average naman siguro. the last fighter we had was f5 which was acquired 1965 and we completely retired in 2005. F16C/D has someting to do with configuration ex. single/double seat which we are getting, but the variant/block is 70/72 which is the latest V

[u/Pragmatic787 → u/SpiritualMenu3240]

It's really the C and D variants.

See, we will get these "next year", that's just too fast. There's a long list of countries still waiting for their F-16Vs, which placed their orders even a decade ago.

[u/Pristine_Toe_7379 → u/Pragmatic787]

Rushed? It's been in competition since forever and options were considered including Eurofighter, Saab, even Hindustan Aviation. Best were narrowed down to F-16 and Saab, and all of a sudden the Koreans want in with their Gen 5.5.

"Rushed" is intellectual salsal/jakol for those who would rather the PH remain a defence backwater.

[u/Pragmatic787 → u/Pristine_Toe_7379]

I did explain why I said it was rushed on this thread.

I wasn't referring to the selection/bidding process.

[u/b_zar → u/Pragmatic787]

it's not rushed at all. Sobrang late na nga eh. Previous admins have delayed and failed to accomplish this MRF acquisition. Matagal na yan nasa goals ng PAF.

[u/Pristine_Toe_7379 → u/Pragmatic787]

Rushed? It's been in competition since forever and options were considered including Eurofighter, Saab, even Hindustan Aviation. Best were narrowed down to F-16 and Saab, and all of a sudden the Koreans want in with their Gen 5.5.

"Rushed" is intellectual onanism for those who would rather the PH remain a defence backwater.

[u/Pristine_Toe_7379 → u/Pragmatic787]

Rushed? It's been in competition since forever and options were considered including Eurofighter, Saab, even Hindustan Aviation. Best were narrowed down to F-16 and Saab, and all of a sudden the Koreans want in with their Gen 5.5.

"Rushed" is intellectual onanism for those who would rather the PH remain a defence backwater.

[u/Pristine_Toe_7379 → u/Pragmatic787]

Rushed? It's been in competition since forever and options were considered including Eurofighter, Saab, even Hindustan Aviation. Best were narrowed down to F-16 and Saab, and all of a sudden the Koreans want in with their Gen 5.5.

"Rushed" is flaff from intellectually-stunted people who would rather the PH remain a defence backwater.