Manila, June 25 -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the multi-role fighters (MRFs) to be acquired by the country must have the capability to land and operate on short runways.

This aligns with Manila's adoption of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which aims to protect the country's territories, including its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). PAF commander Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura told reporters at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City Tuesday afternoon.

"The specifications, I need not go to the details but in terms of our selection for MRF, the CADC, our defense campaign plan, our concept for defense entails projection so we need to be able to exhibit credible defense in our EEZ," Cordura said in a mi...