THE Philippine military said on Wednesday it is coordinating with the Defense department and lawmakers as its modernization framework nears expiry, adding it is reviewing the country’s security situation and will adjust its equipment wish list to bolster deterrence.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is giving “technical advice” to policymakers to ensure that the next military modernization plan remains responsive to national security concerns, its Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rommel P. Roldan said.
“The armed forces is always ready with our proposals for any changes or improvements to the next modernization program,” he told a media briefing in mixed English and Filipino.
The Philippines is at the tail-end of its military modernization program called “Horizon,” which began in 2012 when tensions with China flared after a naval standoff at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Manila has earmarked about $35 billion for military upgrades in the next decade.
The current plan, set to expire in 2027, has enabled the Philippines to acquire advanced warships and missile systems as part of efforts to counter China’s growing military presence in the region.
“At present, the review of the current modernization program is still ongoing to assess what has been implemented. From there, we will examine the security landscape and the changes that have taken place since the existing plan was drafted and approved,” said Mr. Roldan.
“We will revise the programs to determine what capabilities or new capabilities the armed forces need to develop in order to continue providing proper security for our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo promoted its multirole fighter aircraft for the Philippines’ military modernization program, pitching the establishment of local maintenance facilities to service its Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
“The Philippines doesn’t just need an aircraft; it needs lasting capability,” Tommaso Pani, senior vice-president of marketing and sales at the aeronautics division of Leonardo, said in a Jan. 7 statement.
The Southeast Asian nation has been scouting for coveted multi-role combat jets as part of efforts to boost its inventory of air force planes, which mainly consist of turboprops. Manila is allotting as much as P400 billion for the purchase of 40 multi-role fighters, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. told lawmakers in 2024.
Leonardo said it could supply two squadrons of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Philippines, backed by a domestic maintenance hub to sustain the aircraft.
“This includes partnerships with local companies across maintenance, repair, avionics and digital mission-data support, allowing the Philippine industry to progressively assume more complex responsibilities as national capabilities mature,” it said.
Filipino engineers would undergo training in Italy as part of a knowledge‑sharing initiative aimed at strengthening the sustainment capabilities of the European jets, it added.
“Modernization is not defined by a single platform,” Mr. Pani said. “Our commitment is to be a long-term partner in developing this entire ecosystem, enabling the country to gain high-performing capability alongside confidence, competencies, and independence.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
