WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines to bolster its defense, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tuesday.

The sale involves 20 F-16 fighter jets and related equipment, with a total value of 5.58 billion U.S. dollars, it said in a statement.

Manila and Washington have deepened defense cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022.