Amid rapidly evolving security threats, there has been a surge in the purchase of state-of-the-art military equipment by Southeast Asian countries. While these countries, threatened by Chinese expansionism, have purchased everything from tanks to missiles to corvettes, fighter jets continue to dominate the trend.
According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), South East Asian nations outpaced regional and global trends in 2020–2024 by significantly increasing their military spending and weaponry purchases.
It states that regional tensions, especially those in the contentious South China Sea, and China’s expanding military might have been contributing factors to this trend.
Over the past four years, several states in the region have focused on strengthening their air power with cutting-edge multi-role fighter jets.
In one such development, there is speculation that Vietnam is seriously considering the purchase of F-16 fighters from the United States. According to reports, the potential purchase is anticipated to include at least two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons.
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These claims could not be independently verified. EurAsian Times has reached out to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense for confirmation, and this report will be updated when we get a response.
If Vietnam goes ahead with the F-16 deal, it could lay the path for the US to tighten its grip on the Indo-Pacific and become its defining partner. It would also mean the end of Russia’s decades-old defense relationship with Hanoi.
Earlier, Vietnam ordered 12 new T-6C Texan II aircraft, a variant of the T-6 trainer, in 2021 amid the thawing of ties with Washington, and received the first batch of the aircraft in November last year. This marked the first time since the end of the Vietnam War that the Southeast Asian state inducted US-made fixed-wing aircraft into its arsenal.
Being a socialist state, Vietnam traditionally purchased military equipment from the former Soviet Union, which later paved the way for the purchase of Russian arms. The Vietnamese Air Force is currently composed of vintage Sukhoi Su-22s, MiG-21, Su-27, and more sophisticated Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. It also acquired the Yak-130 jet trainers in 2019.
However, as relations with the US continue to improve, a visible shift in Vietnamese policy has become apparent. Reports in October 2023 first indicated that Hanoi was mulling the purchase of F-16 fighters. Buying the T-6C Texan II could possibly be a precursor to acquiring the F-16.
While an F-16 Block 70/72 acquisition will be a significant boost to its air force, Vietnam is not the only country in the Southeast Asian region modernizing its air force.
Southeast Asia Goes Fighter Jet Shopping
Amid speculation about Vietnam’s keen interest in F-16s, the Philippines has decided to purchase the American F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jet to modernize its air force amid escalating tensions with China in the South China Sea.
As recently reported by the EurAsian Times, the US State Department approved the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets, valued at US$5.58 billion, to the Philippines on April 1.
At the time, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) noted that the Philippines had requested the purchase of sixteen F-16 C Block 70/72 aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70/72 aircraft, along with associated equipment and armaments. An agreement for the purchase is yet to be signed.
The Philippines Air Force (PAF) has been examining two combat aircraft on offer, the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 and the Saab Gripen-E. Earlier, the Philippines had announced that it would acquire 40 fighter jets as part of the Horizon-3, or Phase 3, of the country’s military modernization program.
Currently, the PAF only operates the FA-50 fighter jets and A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft. It is also reportedly considering purchasing a dozen additional FA-50 fighters from South Korea to increase its fleet size and enhance combat readiness.
Another country actively seeking to modernize its air force with cutting-edge fighters is Malaysia, which also has longstanding territorial disputes with China, primarily over the Spratly Islands.
After purchasing the South Korean FA-50 light attack fighter in 2023, Malaysia has set its sights on the second-hand F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait.
Earlier this year, Deputy Defense Minister Adly Zahari stated that the purchase of 30 used F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait is anticipated to be completed this year, once the paperwork between the US and the Kuwait Air Force (KAF) is resolved.
“So far, the procurement of the 30 aircraft is in the final stages of discussion following KAF’s green light after both parties agreed in principle with our intention to obtain the aircraft immediately,” he added.
Currently, the Royal Malaysian Air Force operates the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, and the BAE Hawk. The acquisition of more Super Hornets will boost numbers in the RMAF’s air force and further bolster its combat capability.
In addition to the Philippines and Malaysia, the Southeast Asian country of Thailand has also decided to add brand-new fighters to its inventory.
In August 2024, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced the acquisition of SAAB Gripen-E fighter jets following a lengthy contest that also involved the F-16.
The decision made by RTAF was endorsed by the Thai government earlier this year, with reports indicating that the country is conducting government-to-government discussions with Sweden to finalise a purchase.
Currently, the RTAF operates the archaic F-16A/B and Gripen C/D multi-role fighters. The addition of the latest Gripen-E will significantly modernise the country’s air power.
In contrast, Myanmar received its six Su-30 SMEs from Russia in January 2025. At the time, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister informed the Russian news agency TASS that these Su-30 jets would serve as Myanmar’s primary aircraft for safeguarding territorial integrity and countering terror threats.
The Myanmar Air Force currently operates the JF-17 fighter jet, which is jointly produced by China and Pakistan. Previous reports stated that the induction of Su-30SME would come as a big relief to the air force, as it is facing some tactical difficulties with the JF-17.
In a bid to bolster its air power amid a raging civil war, the air force commissioned six Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jets, one K-8W fighter jet, and one Y-8 support aircraft in December 2024 alone.
Singapore, on the other hand, took the biggest leap by expanding its F-35 stealth fighter inventory. The only country in Southeast Asia to get the American fifth-generation fighter, Singapore, in February 2024, announced the purchase of eight F-35A Lightning II fighters to bolster its air power.
The announcement follows the purchase of eight F-35B aircraft in 2023 after the initial acquisition of four F-35Bs in 2020. The latest purchase would bring the total number of fifth-generation US-built fighter aircraft in the RSAF’s fleet to 20, and put Singapore in an ‘elite club’ that operates both variants of the F-35 — the US, Italy, and Japan being others.
While all these fighter jet purchases may not be directly linked to the China threat, there is no denying that Beijing’s aggressive policies and increasing belligerence in the South China Sea are prompting many Southeast Asian countries to boost their defenses.
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