TSAMTO, September 20. Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said on September 16 that the Philippines is unlikely to purchase Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters as part of the multi-purpose Combat Aircraft Delivery Program (MFR) due to budget constraints.
According to the PNA news agency, at a press briefing, D. Lorenzana stressed that at the moment the acquisition of the F-16V is unlikely, since the budget of the MRF project will allow obtaining only two aircraft of this type. In the case of a decision to purchase Swedish Gripen ,it is possible to purchase six fighters.
Fighter manufacturers usually do not disclose the prices of aircraft, but it is known that the cost of the F-16V offered to the Philippines, depending on the configuration, is estimated from $ 12 to $ 35 million.
D. Lorenzana made the statement in response to a question about whether the F-16V fighter is the best choice for the MRF program after photos appeared on social networks last week in which the minister tested the simulator during his visit to the United States.
The minister admitted that the F-16V is a good and easy-to-control aircraft, as its simulator exercises prove, but the only way the Philippines can purchase it is a profitable "financing scheme" from the United States. According to him, if this does not happen, the Philippines has no other choice but to evaluate the supply of Gripen.
As reported by TSAMTO, in June 2021, the US State Department approved the potential supply of 12 F-16C/D Block-70/72 (F-16V) fighters and related equipment to the Philippines with a total cost of up to $ 2.43 billion. At the same time, D. Lorenzana said that this cost is too high for the Philippines. With such statements, the head of the Philippine defense department probably signals to the US administration and the manufacturer about the need to find a compromise if they are interested in selling their fighters.
The purchase of MRF aircraft is carried out as part of the second stage of the modernization program of the Armed forces of the Philippines (Horizon-2). It is expected that the aircraft purchased under the project will expand the capabilities of 12 existing South Korean-made FA-50PH jets.