Radar of the last generation, armament for air supremacy, spare parts for decades. Trump maintains the promise to strengthen the Pacific allies
The United States Department of State approved the potential sale of winds hunting Lockheed Martin F-16 to the Philippines for an estimated value of 5.58 billion dollars. The potential supply would include 16 jets in variant C of the Block 70/72 and four specimens F-16B Block 70/72, and welcomed the OK of the policy uses only a few days after the defense secretary Pete Hegseth was visiting Manila, where he said he wanted to intensify the aid and the bonds of defense between the two countries.
The official communication, issued in the form of a congress notification by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Dsca), is not definitive: To change the total quantity of the aircraft could change and consequently the dollar value of the saleswoman. According to US laws, legislators now have the opportunity to block the agreement within a month. The Dsca has also communicated that 24 spare engines are part of the package, 22 radar with Aesa technology and a series of internal electronic systems that must be periodically overhauled. From the point of view of the armaments, the new Filipino airplanes could be configured to launch AIM-20C-8 missiles or equivalent (112 pieces ordered), guided bombs of small diameter GBU-39/B; Aim-9x Block II Sidewinder (air-air) missiles and as many AIM-9x Block II.
In addition, 500 pound MK-82 multipurpose bombs will be provided and 2,000 pound MK-84 typeplus the related equipment for armament and maintenance operations. The Dsca website reads: “This proposal for sale will support foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the defense skills of a strategic partner who continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in Southeast Asia. In fact, with the arrival of the F-16, the Filipino aerial force will be able to strengthen patrol missions, interdiction and close air support. From a technical point of view. F-16 Block 70/72, also called F16V, stands out precisely for the presence of the Aesa Radar Northrop Groumman An/Apg-83 derived from that of the F-16 in the variant and/F, or Block 60).
It is an electronic scanning apparatus, Technology that uses a matrix of miniaturized radar modules to orient and concentrate the electronically discovery signal on a large area instead of pointing the radar antenna towards the goal. This allows you to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, for example keeping a portion of airspace under control and at the same time carry out maritime patrol and analysis of weather conditions. Speed and reactivity are greater since there are no antenna mechanical movements and therefore delays in surveys, remarkable advantage during air combat or presence of multiple threats.
The system is therefore more reliable, less thirsty for electricity and provides a greater tracing capacity than the targets. It is therefore a variant of hunting airplane and more modern tactical support than that given by Denmark, Belgium and Holland to Ukraine. Finally, the aircraft are equipped with a system for communications link-16, compatible with those used in the NATO area. It is therefore evident that the US maneuver to strengthen Manila is made in an anti-chinese key to protect the geographical area of Asia and the Pacific, providing the allies of aircraft that can face Chinese hunting embarked on the last generation such as the Shenjang J-15, in turn derived in part from the Russian Sukhoi 33 and more similar, due to the role and ability, to the US F-18.
