Latest news with #CopeThunder
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
US gov't seen to make formal fighter-jet sale offer to PH ‘soon' — Lockheed Martin
An F-16 fighter jet from the US Pacific Air Forces is among the US aircraft participating in the Cope Thunder exercises with the Philippine Air Force starting Monday, April 7, 2025 in various PAF bases in Luzon. CHINO GASTON/GMA Integrated News/File photo American aerospace and defense technology company Lockheed Martin has expressed optimism that the formal offer for the planned sale of $5.58-billion in F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines will be extended by the US government sooner. At a press briefing in Taguig City on Wednesday, Lockheed Martin Integrated Fighter Group Business Development Vice President Aimee Burnett said, 'It is up to the US government to make that [formal] offer.' She was asked to comment on Defense Secretary Gliberto Teodoro's pronouncement, at a defense summit in Singapore, that the Philippines is yet to receive a formal offer from the State Department to purchase 20 16 jets and related equipment. To recall, last April, the State Department announced it has approved the sale of $5.58-billion F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. Burnett clarified that while Lockheed Martin will be providing the F-16 Block 70 jets, the discussions are still between the US and the Philippine governments. The formal offer, she said, would be 'the decision to be made by the US government…' 'We do believe that it's gonna be soon… We do expect it to be soon but the exact date of that offer is up to the US government,' she said. Burnett said that apart from F-16 jets, Lockheed Martin is also proposing the establishment of an Innovation Center in the Philippines — which would be the focal point for research and development collaboration, technology transfer and investment. The defense technology company would also be providing maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to the country by providing technologies and equipment to local industrial partners to allow them to directly repair Philippine Air Force aircraft. 'Lockheed Martin's partnership with the Philippines extends beyond providing military capability…,' said Burnett, noting that the company's offer to the Philippines would be a 'total package approach' as it aims to train Filipino technicians, enable in-country maintenance, as well as allocate funds for research. Last week, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez disclosed that the Philippines is working with the US and Lockheed Martin to determine how it can finance the major F-16 acquisition. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Daily Tribune
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Philippines, US launch joint drills aimed at 'deterrence'
The Philippine and US air forces kicked off joint exercises Monday aimed at boosting operational coordination and enhancing "strategic deterrence", Manila's military said. The drills follow months of confrontations between Bejing and Manila over disputed areas of the South China Sea, with significantly larger US-Philippine air, land and sea exercises set for late April. "Enhancing combat readiness and elevating joint mission effectiveness" would be central to the Cope Thunder exercise, Philippine Air Force commander Arthur Cordura said Monday at a ceremony to launch the drills. Military ties between the Philippines and United States have deepened since the 2022 election of President Ferdinand Marcos, with Manila pushing back on sweeping Chinese claims in the South China Sea that an international tribunal has ruled are without merit. The US State Department last week approved a long-mooted sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". Speaking at Monday's ceremony, US Major General Christopher Sheppard said that "the pace of our alliance is accelerating". Cope Thunder, which will continue through April 18, aims to enhance "asymmetric warfare capabilities", operational coordination and strategic deterrence, according to the Philippine Air Force. "Further down the road, we look forward to the seamless transition to exercise Balikatan, which will continue to push the boundaries of our interoperability," Cordura added. Like the majority of Balikatan's planned activities, Cope Thunder will be conducted on northern Luzon island, the area of the Philippines closest to Taiwan. As China encircled Taiwan with planes and ships in a simulated blockade last week, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner warned troops that their country would "inevitably" be involved should the self-ruled island be invaded. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to forcefully bring under its control. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the country. One is a naval facility at Cagayan's Santa Ana about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Taiwan. During a recent visit to Manila, US Defence Chief Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on its alliance with the archipelago nation. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said on March 28.
Japan Times
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Philippines, U.S. launch joint drills aimed at 'deterrence'
The Philippine and U.S. air forces kicked off joint exercises Monday aimed at boosting operational coordination and enhancing "strategic deterrence," Manila's military said. The drills follow months of confrontations between Beijing and Manila over disputed areas of the South China Sea, with significantly larger U.S.-Philippine air, land and sea exercises set for late April. "Enhancing combat readiness and elevating joint mission effectiveness" would be central to the Cope Thunder exercise, Philippine Air Force commander Arthur Cordura said Monday at a ceremony to launch the drills. Military ties between the Philippines and United States have deepened since the 2022 election of President Ferdinand Marcos, with Manila pushing back on sweeping Chinese claims in the South China Sea that an international tribunal has ruled are without merit. The U.S. State Department last week approved a long-mooted sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase." Speaking at Monday's ceremony, U.S. Major General Christopher Sheppard said that "the pace of our alliance is accelerating." Cope Thunder, which will continue through April 18, aims to enhance "asymmetric warfare capabilities," operational coordination and strategic deterrence, according to the Philippine Air Force. "Further down the road, we look forward to the seamless transition to exercise Balikatan, which will continue to push the boundaries of our interoperability," Cordura added. Like the majority of Balikatan's planned activities, Cope Thunder will be conducted on northern Luzon island, the area of the Philippines closest to Taiwan. As China encircled Taiwan with planes and ships in a simulated blockade last week, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner warned troops that their country would "inevitably" be involved should the self-ruled island be invaded. Beijing insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to forcefully bring it under its control. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives U.S. forces access to nine bases in the country. One is a naval facility at Cagayan's Santa Ana about 400 kilometers from Taiwan. During a recent visit to Manila, U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on its alliance with the archipelago nation. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country — considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said on March 28.
Arab News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Philippines, US launch joint drills aimed at ‘deterrence'
MANILA: The Philippine and US air forces kicked off joint exercises Monday aimed at boosting operational coordination and enhancing 'strategic deterrence,' Manila's military drills follow months of confrontations between Beijing and Manila over disputed areas of the South China Sea, with significantly larger US-Philippine air, land and sea exercises set for late April.'Enhancing combat readiness and elevating joint mission effectiveness' would be central to the Cope Thunder exercise, Philippine Air Force commander Arthur Cordura said Monday at a ceremony to launch the ties between the Philippines and United States have deepened since the 2022 election of President Ferdinand Marcos, with Manila pushing back on sweeping Chinese claims in the South China Sea that an international tribunal has ruled are without US State Department last week approved a long-mooted sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was 'still in the negotiation phase.'Speaking at Monday's ceremony, US Major General Christopher Sheppard said that 'the pace of our alliance is accelerating.'Cope Thunder, which will continue through April 18, aims to enhance 'asymmetric warfare capabilities,' operational coordination and strategic deterrence, according to the Philippine Air Force.'Further down the road, we look forward to the seamless transition to exercise Balikatan, which will continue to push the boundaries of our interoperability,' Cordura the majority of Balikatan's planned activities, Cope Thunder will be conducted on northern Luzon island, the area of the Philippines closest to China encircled Taiwan with planes and ships in a simulated blockade last week, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner warned troops that their country would 'inevitably' be involved should the self-ruled island be insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to forcefully bring under its Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the is a naval facility at Cagayan's Santa Ana about 400 kilometers from a recent visit to Manila, US Defense Chief Pete Hegseth said Washington was 'doubling down' on its alliance with the archipelago nation.'Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country – considering the threats from the Communist Chinese,' he said on March 28.
