Italian aerospace firm Leonardo has entered the race for the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) acquisition program, offering up to 32 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 jets.
Constantino Pravini Rosati, Leonardo’s vice president for Eurofighter Typhoon exports, confirmed in an interview with Aviation Week that the Eurofighter Consortium tapped the company in 2023 to lead the Philippine campaign after the PAF issued a Request for Information.
He said the Typhoon package is tailored to fit the PAF’s budget for 40 aircraft, and comes with one of the most comprehensive weapons suites ever proposed to Manila — including MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, ASRAAM short-range missile, Brimstone air-to-ground missile, and Storm Shadow cruise missile.
The deal would be structured under a government-to-government (G2G) framework with financing options that allow Manila to stagger payments.
A standout element is Leonardo’s proposal to establish a local production line for Typhoon components, which would make the Philippines the first Eurofighter supply hub in the Asia-Pacific.
Such a facility could also support European Typhoons deployed to the region.
Pilot training, meanwhile, would take place at Italy’s International Flight Training School in Sardinia, where NATO-standard combat instruction is conducted.
Rosati described the Typhoon as a “niche but decisive” solution for the PAF, citing its suitability for archipelagic defense, long-range maritime patrols, air superiority, and deep-strike missions.
The twin-engine Typhoon, still NATO’s frontline fighter, is among the world’s most advanced 4.5-generation aircraft.
