U.S. aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin has committed to supporting the Philippines in equipping its workforce with the right skills and knowledge to grow the local defense landscape.
“We aim to deliver social and economic value by cultivating talent, creating jobs and driving innovation that advances the domestic defense sector and supports holistic progress,” said Aimee Burnett, vice president of business development for Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. She noted in April that the company is well-positioned to support the Philippines’ sustainment needs and improve its industrial cooperation opportunities.
In April, the U.S. Department of State approved the Philippine government’s request to acquire 20 F-16 fighter jets under a potential $5.6 billion foreign military sale transaction. However, Gilbert Teodoro, the Philippine defense secretary, recently indicated that his government has yet to receive a formal offer.
As part of Manila’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, Lockheed Martin will lead training initiatives for technicians, ensuring local capability to maintain the aircraft and related components.
The defense contractor is also setting up an innovation center in the Southeast Asian nation, modeled after similar facilities in Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The innovation center sees Lockheed Martin closely collaborating with local universities, industries and government partners on developing local capabilities to address emerging technologies.