Aerospace Group:

U.S. OKs Potential $5.6 Billion Deal With Philippines For 20 F-16s

By Matthew Beinart

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025

SHARE:

U.S. OKs Potential $5.6 Billion Deal With Philippines For 20 F-16s

An F-16D Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron flies over the Florida Gulf during a routine training event June 6, 2019 (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Hoskins)

The State Department has approved a potential $5.6 billion deal with the Philippines for the sale of 20 F-16 fighter aircraft and associated weapons. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Tuesday of the new foreign military sale. The new FMS case specifically covers 16 F-16C Block 70/72 and four F-16B Block 70/72 jets, built by Lockheed Martin [LMT], and follows Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to Manila. “Our partnership not only continues today, but we are…

Unmanned Systems

Counter-Drone Needs Will Be Addressed In Next NDAA Based On Iran War Lessons, Banks Says

A Republican senator on Armed Services Committee on Thursday said that defending against Iranian drones has been challenge for U.S. warfighters and will be an area of focus in the […]

Pentagon

Pentagon ‘Working Options’ On Iran Supplemental, May Seek Funds For New Capabilities

The Pentagon is “working options” for a potential supplemental spending request to fund the operation against Iran and replenish munitions used in the strike campaign, with a senior official noting […]

Congress

Wicker Backs “Crash Program” To Supply Ukraine With Low-Cost Weapons

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Thursday proposed a rapid effort to supply Ukraine with low-cost weapons to aid that country in turning back Russia. “We […]

Congress

Dem Lawmakers Want To Codify Trump’s Push For More Defense Contractor Accountability

A group of four Congressional Democrats want to codify President Donald Trump’s push to hold defense firms accountable for prioritizing production investments over paying out stock buybacks, and are seeking […]