Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero for the Philippine Air Force?

The Philippine Air Force still pursues its quest of securing its future formidable multirole fighter jets, interdiction assets that have air interdiction, anti-shipping, and surgical strike capabilities in mind. With the ongoing stiff competition between established aerospace manufacturers that have to take part and are already part of the defense topic discussions, another one unexpectedly emerges, as this option actually resulted from the assessments made by the service branch itself.

IN THE NEWS

The Philippine Air Force sees this as another option for its MRF Acquisition Project.
(This is a U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt, via Wikimedia Commons.)

The multirole fighter jet acquisition project of the Philippine Air Force is yet to reach finalization this year, at least that’s what the Department of National Defense and this service branch under the Armed Forces of the Philippines are trying to aim. 

Currently, the competition is strong between two (2) aerospace manufacturers and their respective offers, which are the United States military industrial company Lockheed Martin and its F-16 Block 70/72 Viper offer, and the Swedish SAAB and its JAS-39 Gripen E/F variant.

Recently, the Philippine Air Force renewed its interest in getting multirole fighter jet squadrons for its operational use, only this time the leadership now considers Japanese-made aircraft, most notably the Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero multirole fighter jet for its operational use. 

The interview took place during the announcement that the Philippine Air Force will purchase an additional squadron of FA-50 lead-in fighter trainers, an interest first announced by the air service branch from 2022.

The consideration comes as the air service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will materialize the longest-running multirole fighter jet acquisition project, whereby both the Philippine Air Force and the Department of National Defense still see the project as the one with utmost priority, improving the capability of the air service branch that augments the current squadron of FA-50s responsible to cover the country’s air defense identification zone.

Produced between 1995 and 2011, the F-2 Viper Zero multirole fighter jets serve as one of the primary platforms of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force or JASDF in protecting its airspace against intruding parties, particularly the Russians and the Chinese that are entering the Japanese airspace from the northwest and southwest, respectively. 

Being the producer of the aircraft, Japan is the only user of its indigenously built aircraft, itself being a modification from the proven F-16 aircraft platform of Lockheed Martin.

In this topic, the discussions will simply delve into the development and production of this Japanese variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, of which the story will also involve some tidbits from the original aircraft that the F-2 Viper Zero derives itself from. 

As an extra point, the said Japanese fighter shares similar DNA to the latest F-16 Block 70/72 Viper multirole fighter jet, itself actively offered by the United States-based aerospace company Lockheed Martin to the Philippine Air Force.

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF THE TERESA MAGBANUA-CLASS MRRVS

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' aerospace division also produces licensed copies of F-15 for JASDF use.
Image retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.

Originating from the discussion relating to the production and eventually the entry of the Teresa Magbanua-class Multirole Response Vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard (and the ongoing production of at least five more vessels of this type), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as an entity goes beyond the usual shipbuilding practices that made these large Philippine Coast Guard vessels possible, but also they played a key role in establishing and improving the Japanese aerospace industry.

This refers to its engagement with the Japanese aerospace industry itself, as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries played a crucial role into providing the Japan Air Self-Defense Force or JASDF with its licensed-produced military aircraft, with designs usually originated from the United States for domestic altercation and production use such as the Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero multirole fighter aircraft. This comes as a continuation of the aerospace experience embodied by the company even before the Second World War.

One of the fully notable examples that Mitsubishi contributed in aerospace during the Second World War is the Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ fighter plane, in which its agility and maneuverability played a key role in gaining air superiority in the Western Pacific theater in the first months of the war against the United States and its allies, until this was eventually caught up by advanced fighter aircraft developed to counter its capabilities, such as the North American P-51 Mustang Aircraft.

In ‌contemporary times, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ contribution to the development of the Japanese aerospace industry goes beyond the production of the F-2 Viper Zero, but also it involves‌ the locally produced license copies of the F-15J Eagle air superiority fighter (see image above), and the locally produced license copies of S-70 Black Hawk helicopters, which are the Mitsubishi H-60 helicopters for all the service branches of the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF).

With the company’s product line presentation provided, it provides a full picture regarding the experience and expertise that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has in aerospace development and production, and has since then played a critical role in developing and improving the capabilities of Japan Air Self Defense Force into a formidable entity it is today, defending Japanese airspace against intruding Russian and Chinese aircraft. 

The next part of this discussion will delve into the development of the F-2 Viper Zero.

THE DEVELOPMENT

The Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero started as a development project under the name "XF-2".
Image Source.

From a rather obvious standpoint, the F-2 Viper Zero’s design shared from the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon, as the latter presents as a point of preference for a Japanese company like the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop its own fighter aircraft from a proven design, but with tweaks that will come applicable to the requirements presented by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force or JASDF. This development came when the JASDF needed to replace its aging fleet of F-1 supersonic strike aircraft.

As for the reason the F-2 Viper Zero sought ‌inspiration from a foreign-designed fighter aircraft, the story goes back to the 1980s, when Japan’s Technical Research and Development Institute or TRDI seeks for an indigenous design for a future multirole fighter jet concept intended for Japan Air Self Defense-Force use. 

As the Mitsubishi F-1s were more likely to get phased out by the 1990s, it ended in the conclusion that it required a joint partnership and a fighter design derived from the F-16C.

Known as the FS-X or Fighter Support Experimental, the development of the Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero has two (2) primary purposes in mind, the first of which focusing on anti-ship operations that is vital for sea lane protection and amphibious operations deterrence, while the second one focusing on its usual fighter interceptor role that the other aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has in service. This fits the description of the F-2 Viper Zero being a multirole fighter jet platform.

The agreement reached finalization when Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin provided the terms that the development cost is having a share of 60% and 40% respectively, with a full technology transfer of the core F-16 design getting transferred to the Japanese entity. 

This then followed into the production of prototypes for flight testing and other purposes in 1997 until it reached serial production just a year later in 1998, when it continued until the orders made by JASDF got fulfilled in 2012.

As the Philippine Air Force expressed its interest in the capabilities and other factors that this Japanese-made aircraft has in consideration while competing to other proven platforms like the JAS-39 Gripen E/F variant of SAAB and the original, latest version of the F-16 Viper Block 70/72 of Lockheed Martin, the following sub-discussion will delve primarily on the specification of the F-2 Viper Zero, especially on the deviations made from the original design that the aircraft has derived from.

SPECIFICATIONS

Here is an image showing a clear comparison between F-16 and the F-2 in terms of their wings and fuselages.
Image Source.

On the image provided above, there is already a minor difference between the F-16 multirole fighter jet made by General Dynamics that eventually became part of Lockheed Martin’s portfolio, and the Japanese derivative that still counts as a license copy of the F-16, a modification suited for the requirements specified by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force or JASDF for an aircraft that share the same DNA. The following details describe its specifications as a fighter aircraft made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

For its size dimensions, the F-2 Viper Zero has a length of 15.52 meters, a wingspan of 10.8 meters, with the width extended further to 11.13 meters with wingtip launchers, a height of 4.96 meters, and a wing area of 34.84 meter squared. 

Aside from its size, the Japanese-made aircraft has an empty weight of 9.5 tons, a gross weight of 13.5 tons, and ‌a maximum take-off weight, or MTOW, of 22.1 tons. Both size and weight played a significant role in the aircraft’s performance, which is the next one in this discussion.

The aircraft’s performance also comes with its engine setup playing a crucial role in accomplishing the needed objectives on both anti-shipping and air defense operations, whereby the F-2 Viper Zero’s propulsion system comes with a single afterburning turbofan jet engine configuration, similar to its parent F-16 model. The jet’s engine is a General Electric F-110-IHI-129, a license-copied engine made by Japan’s IHI Corporation, formerly the Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

Regarding the aircraft’s flight characteristics, the F-2 Viper Zero has a maximum speed of Mach 1.7 at high altitude, whereas it has a maximum speed of Mach 1.1 when flying at low altitude. 

Likewise, the operating range of the Japanese-made variant of the F-16 Viper aircraft comes at around 830 kilometers in combat range, while it has a transfer range of 3,500 kilometers, provided that it comes with external fuel tanks onboard for this operation to take place.

For comparison, the latest variant of the F-16, ‌the Block 70/72 Viper variant, has a maximum speed of Mach 2.05, although its sustained speed comes lower at around Mach 1.89. 

Also, there are at least nine (9) hard-points that the F-2 Viper Zero intended for munitions like the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, while capable of carrying ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles. The F-16 Block 70/72 Viper comes with around 11 hard-points to fit munitions onboard for sortie objectives.

THE LIKELY OUTCOME

While the F-2 Viper Zero is in consideration, the competition still sticks between the offers made by both SAAB and Lockheed Martin.
File Image.

As the Philippine Air Force looking for other options like the Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero for its multirole fighter jet prospects, the fact remains that this consideration comes only as a sideline to the greater scheme of this project that the said military service branch aims to have, primarily into securing the deal for the jets before the year 2025 ends. This deal dwells once again between Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Viper Block 70/72 and SAAB’s JAS-39 Gripen E/F variant.

The development comes simply as part of the ongoing story relating to the current limbo surrounding the Multi-role Fighter Jet Acquisition Project of the Philippine Air Force, as its snail-paced progress has span decades since its first inception in the original iteration of the AFP Modernization Program in the 1990s, of which the dilly-dallying movement is still ongoing at the time this article publishes. Still, the leadership’s interest in the Japanese derivative of the F-16 Viper shows their constant interest in getting a multirole fighter.

As this option remains just mere plans, the fact remains that this shows a sign of growing bilateral defense ties between Japan and the Philippines, particularly that the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement or RAA between both countries will now come into effect by September 2025. This tie is just the latest one between the both countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the one that shares equal concerns relating to a regional aggressor and that has a geography that lies in an area known as the First Island Chain.

While eyeing ‌the F-2 Viper Zero isn’t surprising for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to see and consider, there are other programs that both Japan and the Philippines gets strongly focused on related to defense, one of which involves the purchase of several Destroyer Escorts that are likely getting decommissioned in the upcoming years, improving the capabilities of the Philippine Navy fleet. This will come with its own set of discussions.

In the end, the growing bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines are a prospect of shared national defense interest and the importance of providing a collective defense posture with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region, especially when considering that a regional power and an adversary is pushing for its own dominance while undermining the interest of its neighbors. Here is hoping for a stronger defense push between countries, with the Philippines focusing on securing its seas and airspace.

(c) 2025 PDA.

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Detailing the New F-16 Viper Offer from DSCA for the Philippine Air Force

Since this was first reported, the Philippine Air Force aspires to have its squadron of new and more capable multirole fighter jets, one that can surpass the current firepower load-out and other features that the FA-50PH that the air service branch currently maintains in service.

As the new information provided from an official portal that forms part of the United States' system for Foreign Military Sales, this topic will delve primarily on the new information involving a known multirole fighter jet made by that country's premier aerospace company, intended for the Philippine Air Force's air defense requirements.

THE OFFICIAL DSCA RELEASE

An artist's rendition of what a Philippine Air Force F-16 Viper will look like.
From Lockheed Martin Facebook Page.

On a normal Tuesday of April 1, 2025, an information relevant to the Philippine Air Force’s Multirole Fighter Jet Acquisition Program has released on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA, providing information on the request of approval for a Foreign Military Sale or FMS of a certain fighter aircraft made in the United States. And, no, this is not another April Fools Joke, as the release refers to an updated information for a potential sale of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper aircraft.

And why ‘updated’, one might ask? The answer points to another release made by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA on their website, also referring to a potential sale of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, with the details posted on their website since June 24, 2021. 

At the time we publish this article, the previous one is no longer available from the DSCA website, fully reflecting on the updated and most recent release made on the website for the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter jet requirements.

At a glance, it refers to the potential sale of at least twenty (20) units of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper multirole fighter jet, of which sixteen (16) are the single-seater F-16Cs, while the remaining four (4) units are the double-seater, conversion trainer F-16Ds for the Philippine Air Force pilots to familiarize more about the aircraft. The estimated cost of the entire package presented is at around US$5.58 Billion, or Php 310 Billion, based on the exchange rate of US$1.00 = Php 55.57.

The price tag is unsurprising high even at the original budget allotted for the project under the Horizon 2 phase being at around Php 61 Billion, as factors like inflation came into play, not to mention that the offers made through DSCA always come with other components included in the entire F-16 package presented in the website. This includes the number of munitions and spare parts items in the presented package, of which its breakdown will get covered throughout this discussion.

In the previous offer before the update, the details presented on the DSCA website refer to the potential sale of at least twelve (12) units of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper multirole fighter jet, of which ten (10) are single-seater F-16Cs, and the remaining two (2) units are the double seater, conversion trainer F-16Ds. 

The price tag presented for this arrangement comes at around US$2.43 Billion, of which it comes at around Php 118.34 Billion during the June 24, 2021 exchange rate of US$1.00 = Php 48.69.

As usual, aside from the increase in the number of units in the updated release, both the spare parts and ammunition package also increase, ranging from the AIM-9X sidewinder missiles to Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles or AMRAAMS, of which reports provided might have the numbers change to make the deal more bearable for the Department of National Defense to consider. Also included are the sensors and other crucial aircraft subcomponents that are part of the F-16 system deployed onboard.

This discussion will delve more into the details surrounding the updated release from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency website, particularly into the breakdown of armaments, spare parts, and aircraft units included in the package as compared to the original 2021 figures. 

Going further, the missile systems discussed will also come with a glance, providing details on its capabilities that might help improve the capabilities of the Philippine Air Force; especially if they get this multirole fighter jet aircraft type.

THE NUMBER OF JETS

From the initial 12 units, the new DSCA release now calls for 20 units, an increase of 8 more units.
File image.

One immediate change that came from the updated release from the DSCA website for April 1, 2025, as compared to the first iteration way back in 2021, is the number of F-16 Viper units included in the deal, intended for the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter jet acquisition project. The change also reflects the direction of the air service branch’s primary objectives in securing the needed numbers under this project, which will cover shortly throughout this sub-topic.

In the original release of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA website in 2021, the information provided calls for the sale of at least twelve (12) F-16 Block 70/72 Viper through Foreign Military Sales or FMS arrangement, whereby the breakdown comes down to at least ten (10) single-seater F-16 Block C variant and at least two (2) double-seater F-16 Block D conversion trainer variant. The latter will help pilot aspirants to familiarize the aircraft’s operational function, among other combat purposes.

In the numbers provided in 2021 reflects the original multirole fighter jet acquisition project requirements of the Philippine Air Force of that period, whereby the service branch aims to have at least twelve (12) units of multirole fighter jets that will probably form into a squadron, with a meager budget of around Php 61 Billion. 

Of course, given the components released as a package in the DSCA website, the budget required for twelve (12) F-16s plus other components surpassed that of the presupposed budget allotted.

The current 2025 version of the offer has since increased to at least twenty (20) units of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, of which sixteen (16) units are the single-seater F-16 Block C variant, while the remaining four (4) units are the dual-seater, conversion trainer variants of the F-16 Block D variant. This clearly reflects the Philippine Air Force’s updated numbers for its Multirole Fighter Jet Acquisition Project, of which the Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro now calls for a total number of at least forty (40) units of this aircraft. 

This means that Lockheed Martin, with this information provided by the DSCA website for the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter jet requirements, will cover at least half of the total number that the air service branch aims to get under this updated arrangement provided by the said end-user, along with the Department of National Defense. 

From this, the remaining twenty (20) units of aircraft might still be open to other competitors, especially if the first half pushed through, awarded to the US aerospace company.

The increase in the number of units of F-16 Block 70/72 Vipers on the website release reflects not only on the desires of the Philippine Air Force in finalizing this portion of the multirole fighter jet project, but also for Lockheed Martin to push its marketing further into securing this project. That also means further cementing its foothold in the Philippine defense and aerospace market, adding up along with the C-130J-30s and S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters that the Philippine Air Force purchased from this said manufacturer.

As the numbers added for this new iteration of the multirole fighter jet acquisition project fully delved on, the next portion to talk on is on the munition aspects of the updated release, with comparisons provided between the recent one to the original release in 2021. 

This portion, at a glance, has an increase with the number of munitions included and also on the type of munitions provided, some of which might help provide the firepower requirements for a Philippine Air Force multirole fighter jet to use during missions.

THE MUNITIONS

Munitions include the AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile.
Image Source.

Aside from the number of units mentioned in the upgraded deal for F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, another thing to check in the details is the number and type of munitions that forms part of the package, as each of the presented firepower provides additional capabilities for the said multirole fighter jet’s operational requirements, as the Foreign Military Sales arrangement of the United States DSCA always come with its package as complete, although details might still subject for further negotiation with the Philippine side.

The 2025 updated release provides additional forms of munitions that have not offered in the original 2021 version for the F-16 Block 70/72 offer to the Philippine Air Force, the following will come as a list with a glance on the capabilities of each offered munition for this project, ranging from air-to-air missile munitions to guided bombs and guided bombing kits that can fit on unguided munitions, most of which being new capabilities that will help augment the air service branch’s existing munitions inventory.

One notable munition included on the package for the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper are the AIM-9X air-to-air missile munitions, of which these Sidewinders, as it commonly called, come as an improvement to the AIM-9L Sidewinder that typically found fitted with the Philippine Air Force’s FA-50PH Lead-In Fighter Trainers made by Korea Aerospace Industries or KAI. This is not surprising, as the AIM-9X is currently the latest variant of the Sidewinder family of air-to-air missile munitions.

As quoted in this spec sheet that talks about the AIM-9 Sidewinder family, the AIM-9X variant has the same rocket motor and warhead as the AIM-9M. Major physical changes from previous versions of the missile include fixed forward canards and smaller fins designed to increase flight performance. The guidance section gets redesigned and features an imaging infrared seeker, and its propulsion section now incorporates a jet-vane steering system for enhanced post-launch ability. 

Another interesting air-to-air missile munition recently included in the package on the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper for the Philippine Air Force is the AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM or the Advanced Medium Air-To-Air Missiles, of which twenty-four (24) units comes included in this package. 

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a beyond visual range or BVR missile, of which such capability is currently nonexistent in the Philippine Air Force, hence its inclusion might improve the air service branch’s air defense capabilities.

Of course, included in the munitions package list is the 500 lb Mark-82 bombs, of which the Philippine Air Force surely have in its inventory, some of which fitted with kits that form the GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs for surgical strikes and precision-related mission objectives.  All the mentioned munitions will provide the full support for the operational requirements of the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, as an effort to establish the multirole fighter jet force of the Philippine Air Force.

Aside from the munitions, the next point of discussion that will complete this topic will be on the spare parts support of the package, of which the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper aircraft provided to the Philippine Air Force will not only limit to the units bought but also with spare parts support that will increase its operational time, along with providing the needed support infrastructure that ensures the air service branch’s ability to sustain the operations of the multirole fighters in the following decades of operations.

SPARE PARTS, SENSORS, AND SUBCOMPONENT KITS

Spare engines also come as part of the package.
This is an U.S. Air National Guard photo by Audra Flanagan, via DVIDS.

Another part of the package that the United States Foreign Military Sales arrangement provided by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA on their website are the sensors and spare parts package of the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, most of which are likely integrated with the units provided for the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter jet requirements, with the provided extra numbers intended as a spare parts hulk for prolonged operational airworthiness.

One notable component to point on is the supply of twenty-four (24) F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-229 Engines (20 installed, 4 spares), which means the engines come at both installed and spare part configuration that ensures continuous operational airworthiness of the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper, along with the bureaucratic description of providing and including the installed subsystems onboard the aircraft as part of the deal with the Philippine Air Force, aside from discussing the fighter jet units at a glance.

Aside from the engines, the aircraft’s sensors have also included in the package, of which it refers to the twenty-two (22) AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR), (20 installed, 2 spares). 

The numbers provided for the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper’s main radar come similarly to the said multirole fighter aircraft’s engines in terms of spare, except that there are two (2) fewer spares for the AESA radar, but still sufficient for operational requirements based on this given parameter.

Including in the package are the twelve (12) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) and twenty-four (24) Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), whereby the former provide improved long-range target detection/identification and continuous stabilized surveillance for all missions, including close air support of ground forces and the latter serve as a suite that connects an F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jet to the Link-16 Tactical Data Link network.

The said components form an integral part of the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper’s own capabilities, which go beyond its dogfighting and beyond visual range (BVR) missile shooting capabilities. 

The latter components mentioned provide the needed information and communication exchange between units of a larger network system employed by an armed force, all playing a crucial role in coordination and quick decision making that defines the outcome of the conflict.

Adding to the spare parts and subcomponents list are the following items: AN/ARC-238 radios; AN/APX-127 or equivalent Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator Transponders (CIT) with Mode-5, KY-58 and KIV-78 cryptographic devices, AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); KGV-250X cryptographic devices, Scorpion Hybrid Optical-based Inertial Trackers (HObIT) or Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems II (JHMCS II) helmet mounted displays, and night vision devices (NVDs).

While the list provided on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA is more comprehensive than the content of this article, the final items provided come as an integral part of the offered F-16 Block 70/72 Viper as an essential subcomponent installed onboard. 

Also, all the components provided in the comprehensive release are all for the improvement of the Philippine Air Force’ capabilities, as this means a lot for the air service branch’s first multirole fighter jet since the AFP Modernization has started.

LOOKING FORWARD

Information received has suggested that there is a promising prospect on the horizon.
File Image.

As the Philippine Air Force’s multirole fighter jet acquisition project pushes through, there are still some hurdles that need to be overcome prior to this project to get fulfilled, especially if this means purchasing new F-16 Block 70/72 for the air service branch. 

One of the primary concerns relating to this project is the budget availability, of which both the Philippine ambassador to the United States and the Secretary of National Defense are highlighting this concern that prevents the project from pushing through.

What remains now is the formal offer that the United States might bring into this deal that involves the said twenty (20) units of F-16 Block 70/72 Viper multirole fighter jets, along with the subcomponents, spare parts, and munitions included in the package as presented on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency or DSCA website release. 

The aerospace company Lockheed Martin said that they are optimistic about seeing this offer pushing through, suggesting a government-to-government approach as an idea to get it done.

Aside from the interesting tidbits on the package provided on an official website from one of the United States government’s own agencies, another thing to highlight on is Lockheed Martin’s ‘total package’, whereby they also present other tidbits that involve industrial development and tech transfer aspects such as in-country maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity. The said tidbits are for the support of the newly enacted Self Reliance Defense Posture Revitalization Act or the Republic Act 12024.

Despite the optimistic output provided by the aerospace manufacturer that produces the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper from its South Carolina production line, the discretion of a formal offer for the twenty (20) units of the said multirole fighter jet still lies with the United States government, of which they are still yet to provide an official one at the time of this writing. This still makes the multirole fighter jet acquisition project of the Philippine Air Force still relatively open to the competition.

Relating to the grand scheme of ongoing developments within the Philippine Air Force’s push for modernization, the Department of National Defense and the Korea Aerospace Industries or KAI, has signed a contract calling for an additional of twelve (12) FA-50 Lead-In Fighter Trainers, which is correlated to the multirole fighter jet program, particularly that this Korean-made light fighter serve as a stepping stone for pilots in terms of experience before embarking on board dedicated multirole fighters.

The recent developments provided sheds the possibility for the multirole fighter jet acquisition program to push through, although this would not come smoothly as there are still some concerns needed to iron out with some of those mentioned now finding its way for the materialization of the project and eventually for the Philippine Air Force to get its decent and dedicated fighter aircraft. The project comes at a significant importance to other defense-related projects like the land-based defense systems, as mentioned.

Ultimately, the goal for the Philippine Air Force is to improve its overall air defense capabilities, sufficient to conduct its duty of protecting the country’s airspace that comprise the entire Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone or PADIZ, while adhering to the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Re-Horizon 3 modernization initiative, itself aligning to the Department of National Defense’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept or CADC.

All the mentioned efforts aim for the improvement of the defense of the Philippine republic and its core interest.

(c) 2025 PDA.

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Additional A-29 Super Tucano for the Philippine Air Force?

Adding more aircraft on top of existing ones is usually a logical move from a logistics standpoint, as organizations like the Philippine Air Force streamline its fleet of aircraft that it benefits the service branch at both the spare parts support and commonality standpoint. 

This report encompasses the desire of the service branch to expand its number to at least a squadron of close air support aircraft, which means a lot for ensuring that capabilities maintain while the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines expand its firepower capacity further.

AS PROVIDED IN THE NEWS

The Philippine Air Force aims to get six (6) more A-29 Super Tucanos, totalling the number of aircraft to twelve (12) units or a squadron of such aircraft.
Image Source.

At the turn of another year, the Philippine Air Force ended the year 2024 with the decommissioning several of its OV-10 Broncos and the remaining AH-1S Cobra that it received from Jordan through a donation made in 2019. 

Initially, speculations in the defense community make it worrying that the decommissioned aircraft will not come with replacements that will keep the Philippine Air Force’s close air support capabilities, which eventually turns out that this will not be the case.

In the same day that the decommissioning ceremony has conducted by the Philippine Air Force, the announcement also came out that the air service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines opt to purchase six (6) additional A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer in a way to replace the aircraft decommissioned. It comes with further assurance from the Brazilian aerospace firm, with their own release regarding the contract signing of that similar number of Super Tucano orders.

In the same release made by Embraer, the projected delivery date of the Super Tucano close air support aircraft from the signing of the contract will take place by year 2026, or at least one and a half (½) to two (2) years, given that the Brazilian aerospace firm also faces order backlogs from orders made by other countries. The backlogs highlighted the success of the aircraft for export to various countries’ air forces, with the 2026 delivery date giving assurance that there will not be much waiting time.

For context, the Philippine Air Force operate at least six (6) units of the Super Tucano aircraft, of which this order will render the service branch at least twelve (12) units or what will be a squadron of close air support aircraft that simplifies logistical chains and commonality of its operations for pilots to use in their respective mission requirements. Add to this is any likelihood of capability upgrade that might come with this sale of aircraft that the Philippine Air Force will get from the Brazilian aerospace firm.

As the discussion for the platform itself has already covered in this website, more of the details for this entry will entail more on this project’s detail through the recently released Procurement Monitoring Review that the Department of National Defense released for the Second (2nd) half of 2024, the number of OV-10 Broncos and AH-1S Cobra helicopters decommissioned, and the upgrades that the Super Tucano will probably receive through this sale.

AS PROVIDED IN THE PROCUREMENT MONITORING REVIEW

The bids and awards committee of the Department of National Defense regards the additional A-29 Super Tucano of the Philippine Air Force as 'completed'.
Image Source.

The Department of National Defense typically releases its Procurement Monitoring Report as part of a government transparency initiative mandated for agencies to post their accomplishments on their website, of which it gives the glimpse of projects that are both completed and have the procurement process still ongoing. This project is available on the DND Bids and Awards Committee 2 Procurement Monitoring Report encompassing the 2nd half of 2024, as of January 10, 2025.

In the completed procurement activities, the first of the list is the Philippine Air Force’s Additional Close Air Support Aircraft Project, of which this is the official name for the additional A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft that got a contract signed recently. 

The mode of procurement is through Direct Contracting, which is justified under the New Government Procurement Act or the Republic Act 12009 for follow-on orders of assets already serving the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It took the Department of National Defense’ Bids and Awards Committee 2 to accomplish the entire procurement process at least three (3) months to complete, whereby the Pre-Procurement Conference took place on October 23, 2024, then the Letter of Invitation to Bid posting on November 28, 2024. This keeps ongoing through the Eligibility and Opening of Bids, all took place on December 2. Finally, issuing of the Notice of Award (NOA) for the project took place on December 19, with the contract signed between the Department of National Defense and Embraer taking place in the final week of December.

Going further, the budget for the contract as provided in the Procurement Monitoring Report for the additional Super Tucano close air support aircraft amounts to around Php 6,596,782,750.00 (Php 6.597 Billion), which is higher than the contract price provided for the first batch of six (6) Super Tucano close air support aircraft that the Philippine Air Force ordered from Embraer amounting to Php 4,872,598,000.00 (Php 4.873 Billion). This reflects the inflation and likely the upgrades that get incorporated into the new orders.

The following discussion entails primarily to the overall composition of the Super Tucano close air support aircraft that the Philippine Air Force might have upon its completion of delivery, along with developments as of the time this article published regarding the expanding number of entities and air forces that operates the Brazilian-made aircraft, and ultimately, the upgrades that might likely come with this batch of aircraft that might come as lacking on the previously ordered batch of aircraft.

TOTAL COMPOSITION AND POTENTIAL UPGRADES

Rafael Advanced Systems Limited presents the Icebreaker anti-ship missile, a game-changing munition that may enhance the Super Tucano aircraft's capability.
A screen grab from a Rafael Advanced Systems video presentation.

Upon the completion of the delivery of at least six (6) A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft to the Philippine Air Force, the air service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will end up having at least twelve (12) units or a single squadron of close air support aircraft that counts as useful against counterinsurgency threats and future territorial-based threats against the country. Since the delivery of the first six (6) aircraft, the Super Tucano itself came with an introductory upgrade to its capabilities.

Case in point, the Brazilian Armed Forces started an upgrade program that will improve the capability of its Super Tucano close air support aircraft, which includes new electro-optical sensors, reinforced armor, and self protection threats against missile threats. 

Their upgrades came on top of their integrated cockpit with Wide-Angle Display or WAD interface that comes similarly to the Brazilian JAS-39 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft, along with advanced networking integration with the Swedish-developed fighter jet.

One significant thing to check on is the newly developed multi-domain missile solution provided by the Israeli defense company Rafael, which is the ‘IceBreaker’ precision-guided anti-ship missile munition. Suitable for light attack aircraft such as the Super Tucano close air support aircraft, the IceBreaker anti-ship missile will enable the Brazilian produced aircraft to have territorial defense capabilities, especially now that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is shifting into this domain of primary concern.

The missile munition developed and unveiled by Rafael will further expand the firepower capabilities of the Super Tucano close air support aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, particularly that the air service branch now is on its way to secure at least six (6) additional aircraft to form a squadron of this platform in its inventory. 

This enables the Philippine Air Force to use the aircraft for both close air support and territorial defense operations, with the latter augmenting coastal defense systems and missile systems onboard naval vessels.

As these upgrades for the Super Tucano already taking up accordingly by various entities like the Brazilian Air Force, this path might be worthy for the Philippine Air Force to consider, especially that it will maximize further the utility of its close air support aircraft to conduct and undertake mission objectives that this aircraft will come as a better option to provide on. Also, this capability might surpass the ones that the air service branch decommissioned recently out of service.

15TH STRIKE WING’S RECENTLY DECOMMISSIONED ASSETS

On 28 December 2024, the Philippine Air Force decommissioned both the OV-10 Bronco and the AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter, serving the organization for one last time.
Image Source.

In the final weeks of December 2024, the Philippine Air Force opted to decommission both of its OV-10 Bronco close air support aircraft and the remaining donated AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter from Jordan, citing sustainability costs and reduced availability of spare parts to maintain and operate both platforms. 

This put both platform’s service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to a close, enabling newer aircraft such as the T-129 ‘Atak’ Attack Helicopters from Turkey and Super Tucanos to take over.

It put an end to the decades worth of service for the several decommissioned OV-10 Bronco close air support aircraft that have started in the 1990s when it replaced the North American T-28 Trojan aircraft that came before it, and the purchase of the additional A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft from Brazil simply serve as the continuation of developing change on such aircraft in the Philippine Air Force’s inventory. This comes as the modernization efforts enable it to purchase newer military hardware.

The decommissioning ceremony also put an end to the AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopters of the Philippine Air Force, of which it only served at least five (5) years in service within this military branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Donated by Jordan, it provided a transitory platform for the pilots to get experience in operating a dedicated attack helicopter, until the first batch delivery of the T-129 ‘Atak’ Attack Helicopters from Turkey took place in the year 2022.

It is worth to note the track record that the decommissioned aircraft had when it went in service with the Philippine Air Force, particularly with the OV-10 Bronco and its multiple sorties against both the communist and Moro separatist threats scattered across the country. 

One notable example is with its performance in the 2017 Marawi Siege, of which its pilot’s precision strike capability proves to be an effective strategy to eliminate the threat posed by the occupying Islamic radicals in the city.

Overall, this signifies the change reflected by an ongoing modernization process that affects all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which includes the Philippine Air Force. 

It points to a constant improvement of capabilities and the purchase of newer military aircraft comes with an ease of maintenance for the personnel that are taking care of the country’s military platforms, as its current production provide access to spare parts and operability that ensure its prolonged service within the military.

ENDING NOTE

The Philippine Air Force sees the Super Tucano CAS as the future of a close air support capability platform.
From David Branco Filho, Flickr.

The Philippine Air Force, upon the completion of at least six (6) more A-29 Super Tucano Close Air Support Aircraft under the acquisition project that calls for more aircraft of such type, the service branch will probably end up having at least a squadron of the Brazilian-made platform that will replace the recently decommissioned aircraft such as the OV-10 Bronco aircraft and the AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopters. This means that there will not be any reduction in the 15th Strike Wing’s overall capabilities.

In the acquisition project for additional Super Tucano aircraft, one thing to point out is the fast pace of the entire process, something that the defense community of the Philippines look forward to in other acquisition projects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially the ones earmarked under the 2025 General Appropriations Act. 

Notable projects aimed under this year are the Frigate Acquisition Project - full complement, additional FA-50 light fighter trainer aircraft, and AFP cybersecurity upgrades.

The fast pace of the procurement process is likely getting faster upon the full implementation of the New Government Procurement Act or the Republic Act 12009 by government agencies including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially once the newly crafted Implementing Rules and Regulations or IRR sets into place by the GPBB or the Government Procurement Policy Board. This enables the Philippine military to fast-track its military projects, significantly improving its badly needed capabilities in a short time.

After serving beyond three (3) decades of serving the Philippine Air Force, several of the iconic OV-10 Bronco close air support aircraft will now lay into rest, ending an era that it was the mainstay close air support aircraft of the service branch’s 15th Strike Wing. 

The time has now come that a newer aircraft will come in, and the fleet of A-29 Super Tucano close air support aircraft now becomes the spiritual successor of the OV-10 Bronco, in a manner that the latter replaced the T-28 Trojan aircraft in the 1990s.

In this final note, the ongoing projects signify an ongoing change that is taking place within the Philippine Air Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines at-large, improving its capability by securing newly produced aircraft to meet its end requirements, while relieving itself with the ever-increasing maintenance cost of keeping the older platforms in service. 

And with this change comes a promising future that the Philippine defense achieves its desirable posture, ensuring its national sovereignty and integrity.

(c) 2025 PDA.

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