Marcos approved buying more fighter jets —Brawner

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the plan to buy more multi-role fighter jets, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr.

Brawner, however, said there are no details yet on which kind of fighter jets will be added to the AFP's fleet.

“Definitely, the President has already approved that intention to buy multi-role fighter jets. As to which one, wala pa hong decision. As to how many, wala pa hong narating na desisyon dito,” said Brawner on Thursday in a presser after a conference with the commander-in-chief.

(Definitely, the President has already approved the intention to buy multi-role fighter jets. As to which one, there is no decision yet. As to how many, no decision has been reached yet.)

“But kailangan po natin talaga itong mga multi role fighters (But we really need these multi-role fighters),” added Brawner.

During its 77th anniversary celebration on July 1, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) demonstrated its ability to seize control of an enemy-occupied territory using its assets.

While commending their ability, Brawner said the number of these assets are still not enough.

“Pero kulang pa ho ito para madepensahan natin yung ating bansa so we need to get more of these jet fighters and multi-role fighters,” he said.

(But this is still not enough for us to defend our country so we need to get more of these jet fighters and multirole fighters.)

“The multi-role fighters are actually bigger, faster and more lethal than the FA50s that we have now,” he added.

Brawner also previously said that the AFP should update first its radar systems and surveillance systems under the Horizon 3 phase of the modernization program.

He said there are still some items and programs that have yet to be completed under Horizon 1 and 2. The procurement, training, and arrangement of facilities are ongoing, according to him.

In May, the National Security Council (NSC) appealed to the Senate and the House of Representatives to support programs fast-tracking the modernization of the Philippine military. —VAL, GMA Integrated News