Teodoro: PH still waiting for US offer to sell F-16 fighter jets

The Philippines is waiting for a formal offer from the United States to sell F-16 fighter jets like these. AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is waiting for a formal proposal from the United States after the latter approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Manila for $5.5 billion, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

“We are still waiting for a formal offer and proposal. We have not yet received any formal offer or proposal until now,” Teodoro, speaking in Filipino, said when asked about the possible procurement of F-16 aircraft.

READ: AFP welcomes possible F-16 sale to PH expert sees easy US congress nod

If the government decides to buy them, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez disclosed that these fighter jets may be “available for delivery” in 2026 or 2027.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the possible sale earlier this month.

“Anything that will modernize and propel us to greater heights with our assets, we gratefully welcome that for the Armed Forces,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said last week.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the F-16 sale would help the Philippine Air Force boost its “ability to conduct maritime domain awareness” and “enhance its suppression of enemy air defenses.”