Strategic Industrial, Academic Partnerships On Table

Lockheed Martin is upping its offer in an effort to secure a long-discussed sale of F-16 Block 70 Viper fighter jets to the Philippines by adding a proposal for industrial and academic partnerships intended to bolster local innovation and manufacturing capabilities.

In April of this year, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of 20 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft, with munitions and support, for an estimated $5.58 billion.

The deal includes AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, JDAM and Paveway kits, spare engines, and electronic warfare systems. Lockheed Martin is offering Conformal Fuel Tanks that would extend the Viper’s range without reliance on aerial refueling. This benefits the Philippines because of the extent of their island archipelago and its lack of tanker aircraft in the Philippine Air Force fleet.

However, the Philippine Department of National Defense has shown interest in Swedish Saab JAS 30 Gripen fighters. The two countries entered a memorandum of understanding in 2023 that indicated a possible purchase but no contract came about.

This year, the Philippines expanded its fleet with a $700 million deal for 12 FA-50PH with deliveries through 2030, along with AESA radar, aerial refueling capabilities, and improved payloads.

On August 12, Lockheed Martin announced a proposed strategic partnership with Southern Methodist University to develop Philippine technical and industrial capacity. The initiative includes funding business incubators, establishing a research lab and training facilities, and promoting tech transfer in modeling, simulation, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

Jess Koloini, F-16 Business Development at Lockheed Martin said, “We are committed to investing in the development of new capabilities and intellectual properties in close collaboration with leading universities and companies in the Philippines. This partnership will not only support the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP), but also create a lasting impact on the Filipino workforce, driving economic growth and prosperity.”

With financing still uncertain, whether this discussion moves forward may not be because of its capabilities but more so on whether the Philippines choose to spend any of its defense budget on fighters at all.

FMI:  lockheedmartin.com/