Gripens for the Philippine Air Force?

The Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (PAF, Philippine Air Force) and Sweden have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that could lead to the delivery of a dozen Saab Gripen fighters. The Gripen made it to the shortlist together with Lockheed Martin's F-16.

In an earlier stage the Indian produced HAL Tejas and the Chinese JF-17 Thunder already had to leave the multi-role fighter (MRF) acquisition programme. Initially the US had offered F-16 Block 70 fighters including an armament package, but with a price tag of some USD2,4 billion this was deemed as too expensive by the Philippine authorities. Subsequently the offer was changed to Block 50/52 models to be upgraded to Block 70 standard (a tactic also used by Taiwan, Greece and perhaps Turkey).

With that same budget cap in mind, Sweden offered either second-hand Gripen C and D aircraft or even newly produced ones. Both options allow for upgrades to Gripen E specs by incorporating fifth generation electronics, making them C+ models.

An advantage that the Gripen C offers is that it uses the same General Electric F-404 engine as the KAI FA-50PH that is already active in the PAF. Should the MoU indeed lead to a firm order than that would meet the Flight Plan 2028 requirement of the Philippine Air Force for twelve new fighter aircraft.

With the latest developments regarding US military aid for the Phillipines, it might still be possible that the government will turn and accept the US offer. Time will tell ...

Photo (just illustrative) by Jamie Ewan (Scramble Archive)