Leonardo Pitches 32 Eurofighter Typhoons to the Philippines in Historic Dogfight With Saab Gripen and F-16 Viper

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Leonardo has jolted Southeast Asia’s defence market by offering the Philippine Air Force (PAF) up to 32 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 fighters, thrusting Europe’s most advanced twin-engine combat aircraft into a three-way battle with Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72 Viper for Manila’s most ambitious fighter acquisition in history.

In an interview with Aviation Week, Leonardo’s Vice President for Eurofighter Typhoon Exports, Constantino Pravini Rosati, revealed that the Italian aerospace giant was formally designated by the Eurofighter Consortium in 2023 to spearhead the Philippine campaign after the PAF issued a Request for Information (RFI).

Rosati confirmed that, based on the PAF’s budgetary allocation for 40 aircraft, Leonardo can supply 32 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 jets backed by one of the most comprehensive weapons packages ever proposed to Manila.

The package includes the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, the ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile, the Brimstone air-to-ground missile, and the Storm Shadow cruise missile, among other advanced munitions.

Leonardo further emphasized that the offer would be structured through a Government-to-Government (G2G) framework, supported by financing schemes that allow Manila to spread payments across several years.

A key highlight of the package is the proposal to establish local manufacturing of Typhoon components, which would make the Philippines the first Eurofighter supply hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Such a facility would not only sustain the PAF’s future Typhoon fleet but also provide support to Eurofighter aircraft operated by European partners when deployed to the Indo-Pacific.

Pilot training for the PAF would be conducted at the International Flight Training School in Sardinia, Italy, where NATO-standard tactics and advanced combat training are delivered.

Rosati described the Typhoon as a “niche but decisive” platform, tailor-made for the PAF’s archipelagic defence needs, offering unmatched performance in long-range maritime patrols, air superiority missions, and deep-strike operations against fortified targets.

A Defining Contest for Philippine Air Power

This contest is not just another procurement exercise—it is a defining strategic decision that will determine whether the Philippines embraces European high-end combat power, Swedish cost-efficient flexibility, or American political alignment for the next three decades.

The stakes are heightened by the accelerating militarization of the South China Sea, where Chinese fighters patrol aggressively, backed by fortified outposts and long-range surface-to-air missiles.

The outcome of Manila’s choice will reverberate far beyond its borders, shaping Southeast Asia’s airpower balance well into the 2050s.

The Eurofighter Typhoon: Capabilities and Combat Edge

The Eurofighter Typhoon remains NATO’s front-line fighter and one of the most advanced 4.5-generation jets in the world, designed for dominance in both close combat and long-range engagements.

Powered by twin EJ200 turbofan engines producing 90 kN each with afterburners, the Typhoon can accelerate to Mach 2.35 and sustain 9g maneuvers, giving it an edge over single-engine rivals.

The Tranche 5 configuration integrates the ECRS Mk2 AESA radar, capable not only of long-range detection but also of electronic attack, enabling the Typhoon to blind and jam hostile radars.

Its weapons suite includes Meteor BVRAAMs with a range exceeding 150 km, Storm Shadow cruise missiles for precision deep strike, Brimstone for anti-armor operations, and IRIS-T for close-in defense.

The aircraft’s Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS) provides advanced electronic warfare, missile approach warning, and towed radar decoys, enhancing survivability against China’s HQ-9 and HQ-22 missile systems.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 23,500 kg and 13 hardpoints, the Typhoon carries a broader mix of weapons than either the Gripen or the F-16.

This makes it uniquely suited for archipelagic defense, where long range, endurance, and payload are essential.

Saab’s Gripen E/F: The Cost-Effective Challenger

Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F has been aggressively marketed to the Philippines as the affordable and practical alternative.

The Gripen’s biggest strength lies in its low operating cost, estimated to be only one-third of the Typhoon’s, making it appealing to Manila’s limited defense budget.

Its rugged design allows operations from runways as short as 800 meters, offering dispersal options across the Philippines’ scattered islands and complicating Chinese targeting in a crisis.

The Gripen E integrates the Raven ES-05 AESA radar, an advanced infrared search and track (IRST) system, and Meteor BVRAAM compatibility, ensuring it can compete with Chinese J-10C and J-16 fighters.

Saab has also proposed extensive industrial cooperation, including local assembly and maintenance hubs, and has hinted at allowing the Philippines to join its global Gripen support network.

The affordability and technology transfer aspects make the Gripen attractive, though critics caution that its single-engine design limits redundancy over wide maritime spaces.

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72 Viper: America’s Political Favorite

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper, specifically the advanced Block 70/72 variant, enters the race with the strongest political backing from Washington.

As the world’s most exported fighter, with more than 4,600 units delivered, the F-16 offers unmatched sustainment infrastructure and proven combat credibility.

The Block 70/72 variant features the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, upgraded mission computers, advanced EW systems, and compatibility with AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, keeping the Viper competitive despite its aging airframe.

For the Philippines, acquiring the F-16 would deepen military interoperability with the United States, particularly under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which grants Washington access to Philippine bases.

Yet the F-16 faces skepticism in Manila due to its high acquisition cost, expensive sustainment, and perceived vulnerability against China’s fifth-generation J-20 fighters and long-range PL-15 missiles.

Even so, U.S. logistical support, financing options, and political guarantees ensure the F-16 remains a formidable contender.

Comparing the Rivals: Typhoon vs Gripen vs Viper

The PAF’s fighter race is essentially a three-way contest between performance, affordability, and alliance politics.

• Eurofighter Typhoon: Twin-engine, long range, heavy payload, premium cost, NATO interoperability.
• Saab Gripen E/F: Affordable, austere-runway capable, low sustainment, generous tech transfer, but single-engine risk.
• F-16 Block 70/72 Viper: Proven combat record, U.S. political backing, deep interoperability, but an aging design in the face of new-generation threats.

In pure performance, the Typhoon dominates.

In cost-effectiveness, the Gripen leads.

In political leverage, the F-16 remains unmatched.

This dilemma leaves Manila weighing capability, sustainability, and geopolitics in one of the most consequential defence decisions in its modern history.

Strategic Context: The South China Sea Flashpoint

The Philippine Air Force’s multi-role fighter acquisition cannot be viewed in isolation—it is inextricably linked to one of the most volatile flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific: the South China Sea.

China has transformed reclaimed reefs into heavily fortified outposts, complete with 3,000-meter runways, hardened hangars, underground bunkers, and advanced surveillance radars.

These militarized bases in Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs now act as unsinkable aircraft carriers, allowing the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Naval Aviation to project combat aircraft deep into Philippine airspace.

Beijing has deployed fourth-generation J-11B and J-16 fighters alongside its fifth-generation J-20 stealth jets, creating a layered air defense umbrella supported by HQ-9B and HQ-22 surface-to-air missile batteries.

Daily confrontations between Philippine patrol vessels and the China Coast Guard at Second Thomas Shoal, combined with aggressive overflights near Reed Bank, underscore the vulnerability of Manila’s air domain.

The growing presence of Chinese Y-20 aerial refueling tankers and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft further extends Beijing’s ability to monitor and control airspace far beyond its claimed “Nine-Dash Line.”

Of particular concern is the deployment of PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles on Chinese J-16 and J-20 fighters, which analysts estimate have effective ranges of 200 kilometers or more.

This missile capability creates a lethal “no-go zone” for legacy aircraft like the FA-50, forcing the PAF to seek fighters with both AESA radar and long-range missile compatibility to level the playing field.

Without Meteor-class or AIM-120D-class weapons, Philippine aircraft would be locked out of contested airspace before they could even fire.

This is why advanced sensor fusion, electronic warfare resilience, and network-enabled warfare capabilities have become central to the MRF requirement.

The PAF’s Archipelagic Defense Concept envisions dispersing fighters across austere airfields on Luzon, Palawan, and Mindanao, complicating Chinese targeting and ensuring survivability during the opening stages of a conflict.

Aircraft selected under this program must therefore endure long-range maritime patrols, deliver precision strikes on hostile naval assets, and survive in electromagnetic environments saturated with Chinese jamming and deception systems.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, with its twin engines, Meteor integration, and electronic attack-capable ECRS Mk2 radar, offers high-end survivability and offensive punch.

The Saab Gripen E/F provides dispersal flexibility and affordability, with proven short-runway performance that aligns well with the archipelagic defence model.

The F-16 Block 70/72 offers deep interoperability with the United States and regional allies, ensuring integration with American AEW&C platforms and tanker support under EDCA deployments.

Each contender presents Manila with a different path forward—one that balances capability, cost, and geopolitical alignment—but all are measured against the strategic yardstick of China’s tightening grip over the South China Sea.

Industrial and Economic Dimensions

Beyond combat performance, Manila is demanding industrial benefits from whichever package it selects.

Leonardo’s proposal to make the Philippines the first Eurofighter supply hub in Asia-Pacific would provide long-term economic and industrial dividends.

Saab’s track record of establishing local partnerships in Brazil and Central Europe makes its Gripen package equally attractive for Manila’s aerospace ambitions.

Lockheed Martin, while less inclined toward technology transfer, offers access to U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) structures, training, and global sustainment networks.

All three proposals include pilot training, weapons integration, and long-term maintenance pipelines, which will shape the PAF’s combat readiness well into the 2040s and 2050s.

Outlook: A Defining Decision by 2025

Philippine defence officials are expected to announce their decision before the end of 2025, following a period of relentless lobbying, back-channel diplomacy, and strategic courting by all three major contenders.

The Typhoon represents the high-capability option, offering unrivalled air combat performance, future-proof systems, and heavy payload capacity, but its premium cost and sustainment expenses will test Manila’s limited defence budget.

The Gripen offers a pragmatic solution, balancing affordability, industrial cooperation, and operational flexibility, though questions remain about its single-engine redundancy over the Philippines’ vast maritime spaces.

The F-16 Viper delivers not only proven combat credentials but also Washington’s political backing, interoperability under EDCA, and the implicit weight of U.S. security guarantees, though critics highlight its aging airframe and challenges in countering next-generation Chinese fighters.

This is not just a procurement exercise—it is a geopolitical referendum on where Manila positions itself in the intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Choosing the Typhoon would mark a strategic pivot toward Europe, signaling Manila’s intention to diversify beyond traditional suppliers and embrace NATO-standard capability for its air force.

Selecting the Gripen would represent a bet on affordability, dispersal, and sustainability, ensuring the PAF can field a credible force in numbers, even if it lacks the brute power of heavier twin-engine platforms.

Opting for the F-16 would reinforce the U.S.-Philippine alliance at a time when Washington is deepening its Indo-Pacific presence, placing Manila firmly within the American-led security architecture.

For China, the Philippine decision will be closely scrutinized, as the choice of Meteor-equipped Typhoons or Gripens—or AIM-120D-armed F-16s—would directly impact the air balance over disputed territories such as Second Thomas Shoal, Scarborough Shoal, and the Spratly Islands.

For ASEAN neighbours, the decision could reshape regional dynamics, potentially triggering further modernisation cycles in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand as they reassess their own fighter fleets in the face of Chinese dominance.

The decision will also influence industry partnerships—whether Manila integrates into the Eurofighter supply chain, Saab’s global Gripen network, or Lockheed Martin’s vast sustainment ecosystem.

The outcome will therefore shape not only the Philippines’ ability to defend its sovereignty but also its economic, industrial, and diplomatic alignment for decades to come.

In essence, whichever aircraft Manila selects will become the linchpin of its Archipelagic Defense Concept, anchoring its response to China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The choice will echo across Washington, Brussels, Stockholm, and Beijing, as allies and adversaries alike interpret Manila’s procurement not merely as a military purchase but as a declaration of strategic intent in an Indo-Pacific order under mounting strain. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA