Manila, April 3 -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Thursday its FA-50PH fleet would take part in aerial exercises with the Americans under "Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1," scheduled on April 7-18.

In an interview, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo confirmed that the FA-50PH fighter jets would participate in the drills now that the fleet has been placed under operational status after the lifting of its grounding order on March 25.

"That's the plan. Cope Thunder (Philippines 2025-1) will be running from April 7 until the 18th and isa sa mga fleet na magpa-participate is yung FA-50 natin (and one of the fleets that would participate are the FA-50s)," she added.

The opening ceremony for Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1 is sc...