June 10, 2025: Lockheed Martin signs Maintenance Agreement with Philippine Company, another Sign of possible F-16C acquisition by the Philippines
The United States (US) Company "Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC)" just recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the development of the Repair Capability of the Philippine Company, "Ilocos-Negros Air Express Company (INAEC)".
On their Website, INAEC claims to be the first Philippine Airline, having been founded in 1932. As of now, INAEC is offering a wide range of Services to its Customers, which includes Aircraft Maintenance.
MY THOUGHTS:
This to me is just one of the many Signs of an impending acquisition of the Philippines of the F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 70 Fighter Aircraft which is made by LMC. Remember that LMC promised to do the Component Level Maintenance of the Aircraft here in the Philippines if the F-16C is chosen, and now it looks like they have found their local Partner.
It makes me wonder why they would go through all that trouble in the first Place, Things like these are usually done only AFTER a Contract has been signed. Unless of course the Contract has been agreed at least verbally already.
Another Sign is that LMC has been doing a lot of Public Relations (PR) Activities here in the Philippines for the last Month or so. I suspect that this is being done not necessarily just to convince the Government of the acquisition, but to condition the Minds of the Philippine Public of such an expensive acquisition, which is worth more than the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.
Also Gibo Teodoro has been extra brave against China lately, constantly challenging them verbally in Public. He wouldn’t be doing that unless the US backs us up, and so if the US insists on us buying the F-16C, then he would be in no Position to deny them that.
I think that the way they will “sell” this acquisition to the Philippine Public is that it is Part of the Deal with the US to reduce Tariffs, remember that Donald Trump has imposed Tariffs on many Countries including our own, so they will just say that us buying these expensive Product means supposedly “helping” our Economy also.
SOURCES:
June 10, 2025: Lockheed Martin offering Joint Development with their Indago 4 Drone if Philippines gets their F-16C Fighting Falcon Aircraft
- Signs are that the F-16C Fighter Aircraft sale to the Philippines will push through, seems to be “written” in Destiny already, :D
The Inquirer reported recently that the United States (US) Company “Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC)” is also offering, among other Things, the Joint Development of their “Indago 4 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)” if the Philippines gets their F-16C Fighting Falcon Aircraft for the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Multi Role Fighter (MRF) Program.
The Indago 4 is a small Reconnaissance and Surveillance Drone that weighs less than four kilograms, and whose main Equipment are swappable Day or Night Cameras. The Day Camera has a maximum zoom Capability of 30 times magnification while the Night Camera can magnify less at up to 16 times.
The Drone has a maximum Flight Time per Battery of 50 to 70 minutes, has a maximum range of 10 km and can fly up to 40 kilometers per hour.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is just a small, unarmed Drone, but since we are not mass producing any Military-grade Drone here in our Country then I think this will be a good addition to the Philippines’ Manufacturing Sector. However, frankly I think that this is still not enough of an incentive for getting those F-16s since they cost so much, remember as I posted before, it costs more than the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.
But any opposition to this sale of these F-16s might be useless as, based on some of LMC’s recent moves, and despite two high-ranking Officials of the Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) Administration denying that the Philippines has already selected it, it looks like its sale will, indeed, push thru.
I plan to discuss more about this later on a separate Post, but like it or not, the Signs are there that the US will strong arm the sale of these Aircraft to the Philippines ...
SOURCES:
June 2, 2025: Defense Secretary Teodoro says F-16C Fighter Aircraft not formally offered yet to the Philippines, not sure if they will get it
Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro told the Press in Singapore recently that they haven't formally received an Offer for the sale of the F-16C Fighting Falcon Aircraft from the United States (US), and that even if they did, they are still not sure if they will get it.
Quoting from him directly: "As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing on the Table for me to consider. We have not even decided, number one, when we will acquire a Multi-Role Fighter and what Model". He also dismissed the possible sale as just "Media Hype"".
You can access the Article at the "Defense News" Website here: https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/06/02/philippines-defense-boss-throws-cold-water-on-large-f-16-buy-from-us/
MY THOUGHTS:
If there is no formal offer or request from them for those F-16 Aircraft, then clearly by approving its sale, the Administration of Donald Trump is indirectly saying or implying to the Philippines that they want us to buy it.
Probably in exchange for all the Troop and Missile deployment they have been doing in our Country which they see as a “Favor” to us, but actually benefit them more as it will help protect Taiwan which the US loves so much.
I also found it amusing that Gibo is trying to act tough against the US when he is likely depending on them when he is acting tough against China. He is the second Philippine Government Official to put doubts on the acquisition of the F-16s though, the other one being Ambassador Jose Romualdez as I posted about recently.
If they don’t really want the F-16s, I think they are hoping that acquiring other Weapons and Equipment from the US instead will keep the US “happy”. But if the US insists so and starts pressuring them, then I am not sure if they will be able to resist it since they are literally depending so much on them right now.
May 8, 2025: Lockheed Martin offers Conformal Fuel Tanks for more Range, and Maintenance Facility in F-16 Aircraft offer to the Philippines
Jess Koloini, the Director for Business Development Division of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Aircraft Manufacturing Company in the United States (US), was recently interviewed by the Flight Global Website to promote their F-16C/D Block 70 Fighting Falcon Fighter Aircraft to the Philippines. Here are the Highlights of that Interview:
* The use of Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT) are a Key Part of their Offer because it allows the Aircraft to have more Range and longer Combat Air Patrol (CAP) Missions.
* They are also offering to put up a Facility that can do Maintenance of the Aircraft at "Component Level", meaning allowing the repair of Engines, Hydraulics, Avionics, Landing Gears, etc. in the Philippines.
* He said that the US Government could help the Philippines buy the Aircraft thru their Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, and the process could be made within this current Year of 2025.
Here is the Link to the Article at the “Flight Global” Website: https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/lockheed-martin-sees-f-16-cfts-offsets-boosting-offer-to-philippines/162910.article
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