The State Department has approved three sales totaling $2.6 billion in F-16 aircraft, Harpoon missiles, and Sidewinder missiles to the Philippines.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the possible sales on Thursday.
The largest sale is $2.43 billion for 10 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft and two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft along with associated equipment including 15 each F100-PW-229EEP or F110-GE-129D engines; Improved Programmable Display Generators; AN/APG-83 Advanced Electronically Scanned Array Scalable Agile Beam Radars; Modular Mission Computers 7000AH; and LN-260 Embedded GPS/INS with SAASM and PPS.
The sale also includes 24 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles AIM-120C-7/C-8 or equivalent; 48 LAU-129 missile launchers; three KMU-572 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits; six Mk-82 500lb bombs; six Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) or Litening ATP; 15 M61A1 Vulcan Anti-Aircraft 20mm guns and several other sensors, ammunition types and associated equipment and logistical support services.
The primary contractor for this sale would be Lockheed Martin [LMT].
In April, in its quarterly earnings report Lockheed Martin said that the company expected to approach $150 billion in backlog by the end of 2021, including international orders for the F-16, among others (Defense Daily, April 20).
DSCA said the Philippines would use the F-16s to help modernize its military forces.
“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, increasing effectiveness and minimizing collateral damage,” the agency said.
The Philippines is also requesting $120 million for 12 AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II air launched missiles and two AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II Exercise missiles. The sale also includes containers, spare and repair parts, and related elements of logistics and program support.
This prime contractor for Harpoons is Boeing [BA].
DSCA said this capability will help improve the Philippines’ “capability to meet current and future threats by providing flexible solutions to augment existing surface and air defense.”
The agency reiterated the Philippine air force is modernizing its fighter aircraft to better support maritime security needs and this will provide them with “the ability to employ a highly reliable and effective system to counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and amphibious assaults.”
The final Philippines sale covers $42.4 million in 24 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles; 24 AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); six Tactical Guidance Units; 10 Captive Air Training Missile (CATM) Guidance Units; and associated logistics and technical support services.
The prime contractor for this sale is Raytheon Technologies [RTX].
DSCA said this is also part of the Philippines’ effort to modernize its fighter aircraft to support air defense and maritime security.
The agency said the sale will improve the country’s ability to meet current and future threats via “enabling the Philippines to deploy fighter aircraft with a short range air-to-air missile defense capability.”