Because the Philippines advances its seek for a brand new multi-role plane, aerospace and protection producer Leonardo has stepped up its pitch to promote the Eurofighter Hurricane, providing a brand new customization choice to satisfy Manila’s necessities.
“The Eurofighter program has persistently configured the plane to satisfy every operator’s particular environmental and operational situations, a mirrored image of the platform’s design flexibility and the depth of engineering expertise behind it,” Enrico Fossatti, head of Leonardo’s Eurofighter Export Campaigns for advertising and gross sales, told the Philippine Information Company (PNA) on August 11, 2026.
Eurofighter Hurricane was developed by a consortium consisting of Airbus and BAE Programs. In an interview final 12 months, Leonardo’s Vice President for Eurofighter Hurricane Exports, Constantino Pravini Rosati, stated the corporate was designated by the consortium in 2023 to steer the Philippine marketing campaign following the PAF’s Request for Info (RFI).
In September 2025, Leonardo reportedly supplied as much as 32 Eurofighter Hurricane Tranche 5 fighters to the Philippine Air Drive (PAF).
The Philippines is pursuing multi-role fighters as a part of the Re-Horizon 3 part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program. The first aim is to construct credible air deterrence amid territorial disputes and ongoing tensions within the South China Sea, which China claims as its sovereign territory nearly solely.
The Division of Nationwide Protection (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. stated the Philippines is on the lookout for not less than 5 potential suppliers for its MRF program. Along with the Eurofighter Hurricane, this checklist reportedly consists of Sweden’s SAAB Gripen-E/F, South Korea’s KF-21 “Boramae”, Lockheed’s F-16V Viper, and the Dassault Rafale.
Notably, Fossatti beforehand told PNA that Leonardo and the consortium may transfer shortly if chosen by the Philippine Air Drive (PAF).
“As soon as a contract is signed, Leonardo and the consortium can act promptly to lock in a supply schedule primarily based on manufacturing capability, fleet measurement, and configuration necessities on the time of award. Our strategy with the PAF, because it has been all through our engagement with Philippine authorities over the previous two years, is full transparency: clear, real looking timelines reasonably than unsubstantiated projections,” he stated. “And our goal is to convey that very same reliability to the DND and the PAF, with a supply plan which can enable gradual entry into service of the weapon system and transition of PAF pilots and technicians to the brand new platform.”
The corporate has now elevated its provide by emphasizing environmental customization.
“Up to now, the Eurofighter has been flying in very completely different local weather environments, from the Falklands to Iceland, from the Baltic to Australia, with demonstrated distinctive observe data. The Philippines’ tropical, maritime setting would naturally inform any configuration work. Ought to the Philippines proceed with this system, Leonardo and the associate nations would work instantly with the Division of Nationwide Protection and the Philippine Air Drive to tailor the plane accordingly, topic to doable bilateral agreements and the related approvals,” Fossatti advised the PNA lately.
He additionally highlighted the plane’s armament and programs as a key power. “What we are able to guarantee is that the plane will probably be geared up to satisfy the total vary of missions required by the Philippine Air Drive, drawing on a weapons integration pedigree that has been confirmed throughout a number of Eurofighter operators, topic to relevant approvals,” he said.
The Hurricane is a twin-engine, canard-delta-wing, multirole fighter, categorised by Airbus because the world’s most superior 4.Fifth-generation multirole fighter.
The Philippine marketing campaign comes because the Eurofighter consortium experiences a resurgence in gross sales after years of competitors with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II. Turkey ordered 20 jets in October 2025, and Bangladesh signed a Letter of Intent in December 2025 to start talks to amass the plane. In the meantime, among the many consortium members (the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain), Germany positioned an order for 20 Tranche 5 Eurofighters final 12 months, whereas Spain and Italy ordered 25 and 24 new jets, respectively.
Notably, the Philippines is looking for a brand new multi-role fighter primarily to strengthen deterrence and safeguard its intensive maritime zones and archipelagic territory amid recurrent confrontations with China within the disputed South China Sea. There was a major improve in these encounters at flashpoints lately, with Beijing issuing clear warnings to Manila.
The acquisition of a multi-role fighter would enable Manila to construct a reputable deterrent towards the PLAAF.
Sometimes, true multi-role fighters, such because the Eurofighter Hurricane, provide superior AESA radars, higher beyond-visual-range missiles, digital warfare suites, and better efficiency than present PAF FA-50s. These options would allow efficient air protection, quick-reaction alerts, and the flexibility to contest airspace over Philippine territory and maritime zones.
Moreover, a sophisticated fighter jet, such because the Eurofighter, would allow sustained patrols and maritime interdiction, and supply assist for naval and coast guard operations with longer endurance, larger payload capability, and higher sensors.
Apparently, China lately revealed particulars of the J-10C’s overcome the Eurofighter Hurricane in a 2024 mock drill, in what seemed to be an try to advertise the Chinese language fighter jet as a extra appropriate export different to the European fighter jet.
Did J-10C Beat Eurofighter Hurricane?
The Chinese language state broadcaster CCTV claimed in Could 2026 that the J-10CE hammered the Eurofighter Hurricane by successful all 9 engagements in a mock fight in 2024. The mock battles came about through the “Zilzal-II” Pakistan-Qatar joint air train in January 2024, during which the J-10CE “defeated” the Eurofighters of the Qatar Emiri Air Drive (QEAF).
The J-10CE reportedly beat the Eurofighter Hurricane in 4 simulated fight situations carried out past visible vary and received all 5 of its close-range dogfights. The EurAsian Occasions reported on this mock battle when it came about in 2024.
A widely known Chinese language navy influencer, Liu Xiaofei, had said: “If this declare will be confirmed, it reveals that China’s previous-generation fighter jets are being constantly improved and have achieved related, and even superior, potential in contrast with European fighters.”
“It’s definitely inside purpose. In fact, the standard caveats about DACT [Dissimilar Air Combat Training] parameters and train realism and situations apply, but when one assumes considerably widespread sense and equal situations, the result remains to be inside purpose,” Rick Joe, a preferred PLA analyst, advised the EurAsian Occasions when requested in regards to the feasibility of 9-0 claims.
“From what I’ve gathered lately (even earlier than the Could 2025 battle), the J-10C is a reasonably spectacular plane for its class and era, even by worldwide requirements, and the PAF would have been given pretty up-to-date coaching and techniques from the PLAAF on how you can maximize its effectiveness. Couple that with the PAF itself being an air pressure that has its home so as, I may see them on that event having the ability to obtain a disproportionately favorable final result on that individual train, towards that individual air pressure, at that individual time,” he added.
Nonetheless, specialists have emphasised that this doesn’t routinely imply the J-10C is superior to the Eurofighter, noting that every jet has its personal strengths and vulnerabilities. The Eurofighter, for example, triumphed over the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor in mock drills through the Purple Flag air fight workout routines over Alaska in 2012.
On its half, Beijing has positioned the J-10CE as ideally suited for nations seeking to improve their air forces with an inexpensive, non-Western and non-Russian 4+-generation fight jet with no operational restrictions.
That stated, a possible buy of Eurofighters is unlikely to considerably alter the area’s safety structure, notably given China’s superior navy energy. Nonetheless, Philippine officers, together with PAF Chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura and Protection Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, emphasize that the aim is to not match China’s air energy—which is unrealistic within the close to time period—however to create credible deterrence.
“We can’t be at par with China even 10 to twenty years from now. That’s the fact right here,” Cordura stated throughout a media briefing on June 24, forward of the PAF’s 78th founding anniversary. “However we are able to undertaking what we name credible deterrence. They are going to suppose twice in the event that they intrude into the nation.”
For now, it stays to be seen whether or not the Philippines will probably be swayed by the Eurofighter, or select one other plane on provide.
