The Philippine Air Force has officially confirmed its active evaluation of Japan's Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighter jet as part of its next-generation combat aircraft acquisition strategy under the country's archipelagic defense doctrine, according to PAF Chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The announcement comes amid mounting security challenges across the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, where tensions between China and its neighbors continue to escalate, with defense analyst Chester Cabalza noting that "the F-2 would give the PAF a credible counter-force capability, not just a defensive shield."
The Mitsubishi F-2 offers superior capabilities with a combat radius of 833 kilometers, 25% larger wing area than the F-16, and compatibility with advanced munitions including AAM-4B long-range air-to-air missiles and ASM-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles, making it ideal for maritime defense operations.
The potential acquisition, estimated at $120 million per aircraft, would mark a historic breakthrough as the first export of a Japanese-built fighter aircraft and represents a shift in Japan-Philippines defense cooperation from "aid and advice" to "mutual defense and capability building," according to former Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto.
This strategic move aligns with Horizon 3 of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (2023-2028) and signals the Philippines' evolution from a reactive to proactive military actor, challenging China's narrative of inevitable dominance in the South China Sea while strengthening regional deterrence capabilities.
