AFP: Purchasing 12 more FA-50 fighter jets 'possible'

The Philippines could acquire an additional 12 FA-50 fighter jets to strengthen the country’s defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. made the statement after a media inquiry on the acquisition of multi-role fighters.

“Yung pagdagdag natin ng mga FA-50s, another 12 na FA-50s na jet fighters ay medyo mas posible na yun dahil nasa pipeline na po,” Brawner told reporters.

(The addition of 12 Fa-50 jet fighters is likely possible because it is already in the pipeline.)

He said the military is still determining which kind of multi-fighter jets will be added to the AFP's fleet. The Philippine Air Force currently has 11 of the South Korean-made FA-50PH Golden Eagle in its inventory that serve in advance training, air defense and light strike roles.

One FA-50 crashed in Bukidnon on March during a tactical night operation in support of ground troops.

“As to the multi-role fighters, we're still in the process of determining which one we can get according to our fiscal space, according to how we can afford these platforms,” Brawner said.

“Whether these are the F-16s or Gripen or whatever other multi-role fighters, pinag-aaralan po natin yan (we’re studying that),” he added, referring to the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Saab Gripen from Sweden.

In July 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the plan to buy more multi-role fighter jets. 

Brawner also welcomed the news that the United States government approved a $5.58 billion sale of 20 F-16 fighters to the Philippines.

"We are happy that the US Congress approved the sale of 20 F-16s to us, to the Philippines. Pero wala pang wala pang final na (but there is no final) decision on this," the AFP chief said.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said the F-16s could be delivered to the Philippines by 2026 or 2027. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News