Amb. Romualdez says F-16s could start delivery in 2026; Usd 5.6 billion should only be for F-35s

Ambassador Romualdez says F-16s could start delivery in 2026; Usd 5.6 billion should only be worth it for F-35s instead of F-16s

The Philippines' Ambassador to the United States (US), Jose Manuel Romualdez said recently during a Radio Interview that the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon Block 70/72 Fighter Aircraft that the US is offering to the Philippines for Usd 5.56 billion will be delivered in Batches, and the first Batch could be delivered as early as next Year of 2026. He gave no other new Details about the proposed Deal.

MY NOTES:
This relatively fast delivery of the Aircraft seems to be one of the Incentives given the US to the Philippines. I think Rigoberto Tiglao and Rod Kapunan are right in their recent Columns, it seems that this F-16 Deal seems to be one of the main Reasons for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines, to push for it.

With Hegseth pushing for it and that early delivery incentive, it looks like this is an almost done Deal, whether the Filipino People approves of it or not. The Pinoy Doggies of the US are now desperately trying to defend the Deal, saying that it will be a “Deterrent” to China.

How can 20 F-16s be a “Deterrent” to China who now has over a hundred J-20 Mighty Dragon Stealth Fighter Aircraft in Service, not to mention their upcoming sixth Generation Fighter Aircraft of which Prototypes are already flying?

China, who also has around 200 to 300 Flanker-class Aircraft will be “deterred” by twenty F-16s? Really? Remember that these are the same Pinoy Doggie Id**ts who kept saying that the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Bases will be a “Deterrent” to “China”.

Does China look “deterred” now that those Bases are here, when they are complaining every single Day about China doing this, or China doing that. Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t buy Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Aircraft, just not at the Price that is more expensive than the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.

Or anywhere near the cost of that Bridge. Or, if it really is going to be that expensive, then it should at least be twenty brand new F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter Aircraft with Missiles and NOT just F-16s. That then would be a LOT more convincing as a “Deterrent” to China.

Here is the Link to the Article at the “GMA News” Website: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/941805/us-fighter-jets-may-be-delivered-to-ph-by-2026-or-2027-amb-romualdez/story/

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