The Philippine government has increased its 2025 defense budget by 12.3 percent to $4.65 billion from 2024. The increased spending covers air force, army and navy equipment acquisitions to support the Department of National Defense’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to protect Philippine territory, Defense News reported Tuesday.
Aircraft Fleet Buildup
The military acquisitions include additional combat aircraft for the Philippine Air Force as provided in its $890.5 million 2025 budget. One of the expected deals is Korea Aerospace Industries’ supply of 12 FA-50 Block 20 light fighters that would double PAF’s fleet of aircraft and create a second squadron.
The air force is also beefing up its light attack aircraft fleet, with a $112.8 million purchase contract for six additional A-29B Super Tucano from Embraer and deliveries expected in 2026.
Philippine military authorities are additionally considering the acquisition of new multirole fighters, either Saab’s Gripen or Lockheed Martin’s F-16.
Army, Navy Procurements
For the Philippine Army, which has a $2.4 billion slice of the 2025 defense budget, a January DND procurement monitoring report listed the acquisition of a new Bell 412EPX aeromedical helicopter.
Black Hawk helicopter deliveries are also continuing, with the military receiving 16 aircraft in 2019 and an order for an additional 32 placed in 2022.
With an $800 million 2025 budget, the Philippine Navy expects HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to deliver an HDC-3100 corvette this year and another in 2026. The shipbuilder also has a contract to supply six offshore PN patrol vessels.
South Korea’s Kovico is also a contractor for the Philippines, following an award notice in January for some 60 armored vehicles for the Philippine Marine Corps.
Cybersecurity Partnership
Cybersecurity is another sector that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is strengthening through a $613 million project to address China’s state-backed hacking activities.
In December, the AFP announced a partnership with Israeli homeland security and law enforcement solutions provider RealEye.ai for the effort.