(GEO MILITARY AFFAIRS) — In a pivotal shift that could significantly alter the airpower balance in Southeast Asia, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has officially confirmed that it is actively evaluating Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighter as part of its next-generation combat aircraft acquisition strategy under the country’s archipelagic defence doctrine.
The confirmation came from PAF Chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura during a high-level press briefing held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City recently, where he acknowledged that the Japanese-developed F-2 is being seriously assessed as a potential addition to the force’s expanding fleet of combat aircraft.
Lt. Gen. Cordura stated that the evaluation of the F-2 is part of a broader initiative aligned with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), the country’s foundational military doctrine aimed at securing sovereignty over its vast maritime territory, including contested regions of the West Philippine Sea.
“We are looking at all available options that align with our operational doctrine, and the Japanese-made F-2 is being seriously considered as part of that process,” Cordura said, reaffirming that future acquisitions will be dictated by how well the platform fits within the CADC framework.
This latest development underscores a growing Philippine strategic interest in deepening defence-technological ties with Japan, particularly as Tokyo continues to loosen its arms export restrictions and expands security engagement across the Indo-Pacific under its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision.
The Mitsubishi F-2, co-developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin, is a highly advanced 4.5-generation multirole fighter derived from the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon but extensively modified to meet Japan’s unique operational and maritime strike requirements.
At its core, the F-2 integrates a 25 percent larger wing area than the F-16 for greater fuel capacity and payload, incorporates composite materials to reduce radar cross-section, and features the groundbreaking J/APG-1 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar — the first AESA system operationally deployed on a fighter anywhere in the world.
The aircraft is armed with an array of Japanese and Western precision-guided munitions, including the AAM-4B long-range air-to-air missile and the ASM-3 supersonic anti-ship missile, making it uniquely capable of delivering rapid-response firepower against both airborne and naval threats in complex maritime environments.
If acquired by the Philippines, the F-2 would represent a quantum leap in air combat capability, particularly at a time when China continues to expand its military presence in disputed waters and assert territorial claims through gray-zone coercion.
Analysts view the F-2 as a game-changing platform for the PAF, capable of operating deep into contested maritime domains with long-range sensors, standoff weapons, and superior situational awareness, all of which are essential for maintaining freedom of navigation and enforcing national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
The aircraft’s powerplant — a single General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engine — generates 28,000 pounds of thrust, giving the fighter a maximum speed of Mach 2 and an operational ceiling of 59,000 feet, with a combat radius of approximately 833 kilometers and a ferry range exceeding 3,000 kilometers.
Such performance metrics make the F-2 well-suited for long-range maritime strike, air interdiction, and defensive counter-air missions over the Philippines’ extensive archipelagic territory, as well as enhancing interoperability in joint exercises with allied forces from Japan, the United States, and ASEAN partners.
In comparison, the FA-50 Block 70 light attack aircraft — which the PAF has already approved for procurement from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) — offers a more economical solution for near-term force enhancement, but lacks the F-2’s endurance, payload, radar power, and overall multirole flexibility.
While the FA-50 Block 70 is expected to cost around USD $45 million (RM213 million) per unit, the Mitsubishi F-2 is projected at approximately USD $120 million (RM570 million) per aircraft — a cost differential that reflects its much broader mission set, high-performance sensors, and battle-proven survivability in high-threat environments.
The F-2’s 13 external hardpoints allow it to carry up to 8,000 kg of ordnance, ranging from laser-guided bombs and AMRAAM-class air-to-air missiles to standoff cruise missiles and maritime strike weapons, providing the PAF with an unmatched combination of kinetic precision and deterrent posture.
Notably, the platform is also fully compatible with in-flight refueling systems and tactical datalinks, enhancing its endurance and networking capability within allied joint operations — a critical factor as Manila increasingly engages in trilateral security drills with Washington and Tokyo.
From a geopolitical perspective, Manila’s consideration of a frontline Japanese fighter marks a historic milestone in post-war defence diplomacy between the two nations, potentially representing the first-ever export of a Japanese combat aircraft and a clear symbol of growing defence-industrial trust between Tokyo and ASEAN states.
The strategic significance is even greater when viewed within the context of rising regional tensions, with China fielding advanced fifth-generation aircraft like the J-20 and deploying air and naval forces aggressively near Philippine-held reefs and shoals.
By fielding a platform like the F-2, the Philippines would not only gain a credible air deterrent but also send a strong message of alliance alignment and capability uplift to both regional adversaries and strategic partners.
Moreover, the acquisition could pave the way for expanded joint training programs, local sustainment and maintenance collaboration, and future co-development in emerging aerospace technologies — all of which align with Japan’s ambitions to assume a greater security role in Southeast Asia and reduce regional dependence on Western suppliers.
The PAF’s interest in the Mitsubishi F-2 also dovetails with its Horizon 3 objectives under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP), which calls for the induction of multirole platforms that can operate in high-intensity conflict scenarios, support air defense and strike missions, and interoperate with multinational coalitions in the Indo-Pacific.
Given the country’s archipelagic geography and vulnerability to coercion in the maritime domain, a platform like the F-2 — optimized for anti-ship missions and rapid-response deployments — offers strategic depth and operational flexibility far beyond that of light attack aircraft currently in service.
If finalized, the procurement would also align with the broader regional movement toward capability-driven defence postures, as evidenced by Indonesia’s Su-35 and Rafale procurements, Malaysia’s F/A-50, and Vietnam’s rumored interest in Western aircraft to replace aging Russian platforms.
The Mitsubishi F-2’s proven operational history, advanced radar and missile integration, maritime strike pedigree, and alliance interoperability credentials make it an ideal candidate for the PAF’s evolving doctrine of layered territorial defense and forward air presence.
As regional security threats become more complex, technologically demanding, and multi-domain in nature, the inclusion of Japan’s F-2 in the Philippine arsenal could redefine the country’s ability to assert air dominance, conduct naval interdiction, and support joint operations across its strategic zones.
While no final decision has been announced, the very act of publicly acknowledging the F-2 as a viable option marks a transformative moment in the Philippines’ procurement strategy, signaling an unmistakable shift toward capability over cost, resilience over reaction, and strategic alignment over legacy inertia.
In a region where maritime disputes are becoming flashpoints for major power confrontation, the potential acquisition of the Mitsubishi F-2 by the Philippines represents not just a tactical upgrade, but a clear recalibration of the country’s defence posture toward credible deterrence, sovereign assertion, and alliance-driven security integration.
Should the deal proceed, the Mitsubishi F-2 will not only stand as a cornerstone of the PAF’s air superiority capability, but also as a visible symbol of the Philippines’ emergence as a modern, forward-leaning military actor in the Indo-Pacific’s shifting balance of power.
— GEO MILITARY AFFAIRS