Todjaeger
Potstirrer
The issue I have with the PAF purchasing six, is that for virtually all intents and purposes, that does not provide any capability. Given that fighters operate in pairs for air combat, six would provide three air elements. Given the normal training and maintenance cycles for most Western fighters, out of three elements, one would be undergoing maintenance, another would be standing up or down from a training cycle, and the remaining third flight element would be available for operational use.Ideally they would buy at least 8 or 12 but maybe 6 [assuming the number is correct] is all the all that the budget can support. I can't imagine it being anything apart from surplus USAF F-16s.
Now what can the PAF/AFP actually accomplish with a single fighter flight element available at any given time, to cover the whole of the Philippines? Realistically, not much.
Of course they could be used for maritime strike, but someone/something needs to vector the fighters until the fighters detect the target(s) themselves. IMO MPA would be a better investment, as they can provide sea and some air search and surveillance, as well as undertaking ASuW and ASW depending on fitout and armament.
They could be used for air interception/interdiction roles. In fact, this is largely the only role which the PAF could not accomplish better with another type of platform. However, only having six fighters puts a severe limit on just how often and effective this would be. Again, with only three air elements available, to maintain a capability for 24 hours/day means only having a single element available for deployment at all times, with a surge possible to two air elements. Now if there was some high value target or event which required maintaining a CAP, of if there was a known threat flight which required interception/shoot-down a single flight element could maintain that. Or at least do so around a single location. The Philippines is too large for a pair of fighters to be able to transit wherever required around the Philippines, whenever they might be required.
Now if the idea is to have some fighters providing air patrolling over the Spratleys, that is IMO a dangerous waste of resources. The PAF sending a pair of fighters there could result in actual between PLAAF fighters and PAF fighters. Or it could result in the PLAAF just increasing the size and frequency of flights it sends over the Spratleys. If the intent is to have a pair of PAF fighters overhead to reinforce Philippine claims to the Spratleys, how effective would that be if China then responded by no longer sending a pair of fighters, instead sending two pairs of fighters or more at a time...
There is no question that fighter aircraft can/do deliver useful capabilities. Such capabilities have to be considered in context with the threat matrix a nation/force is facing, and what force construct can be supported. Unfotunately, it does not appear that the AFP force construct can reasonable acquire and support fighter aircraft is useful numbers. Therefore, I would suggest that the funding intended for a fighter aircraft purchase would be better spent elsewhere within the AFP since there are a number of areas and capabilities which need acquisition, replacement, or upgrades.
-Cheers