Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo has reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines' long-term capability development and modernization goals. In a statement, the company said it will invest in technologies, skills, and systems to make the Armed Forces of the Philippines future-ready. This supports the nation's push for a capable and self-reliant deterrence posture.
On Tuesday, December 9, Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo issued a statement reaffirming its dedication to supporting the Philippines' military modernization. Tommaso Pani, SVP for Marketing and Sales in the Aeronautics division, stated, "Leonardo, as part of Eurofighter Consortium, stands ready to support the Philippines as it moves toward a more capable, self-reliant, and unmatched deterrence posture." He added, "Our approach is anchored on long-term partnership built not only on trusted performance, but also on meaningful investments in local capability, skills development, and national growth."
In a December 3 interview, Enrico Fossatti, head of Eurofighter Export Campaigns, emphasized the Philippines' need for more capable fighter aircraft to strengthen national defense and territorial security. "A multi-role fighter aircraft is needed for the air force to be capable of doing things by themselves," he said. He recommended the Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by Leonardo and other firms, for its high reliability, low maintenance costs, and powerful radar suited for border patrols. "If you have a Eurofighter over the border, nobody will enter because... we can see far beyond the border," he explained.
In 2023, the Philippine Air Force issued a Request for Information on aircraft, leading the Eurofighter consortium to tap Leonardo for an offer. Fossatti noted that defending the Philippines benefits Europe too, as the South China Sea handles about 25% of global trade. "Defending the Philippines... it's also defending Europe," he said, since weak defenses could disrupt international commerce.