Taiwan's defense ministry announced on Friday that it expects to receive its first batch of new F-16V fighter jets by the end of this year, citing "acute fluctuations" in the international situation as the reason for delays.
In 2019, the United States approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal intended to expand Taiwan's F-16 fleet to over 200 jets. This fleet is the largest in Asia and aims to bolster Taiwan's defenses against increased threats from China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory.
Taiwan has been upgrading 141 of its existing F-16A/B jets to the F-16V model, and it has also ordered 66 new F-16Vs. These new jets are equipped with advanced avionics, weapons, and radar systems designed to counter China's air force, including its J-20 stealth fighters.
However, Taiwan has faced delays in receiving these new F-16Vs due to issues such as software problems. The initial delivery was scheduled for the third quarter of this year but has been postponed. The defense ministry explained that global tensions have caused disruptions, including delays from suppliers and adjustments to the U.S. assembly schedule. As a result, the delivery timeline has been adjusted.
The ministry is working to ensure that the first aircraft is shipped by the end of the fourth quarter and aims to complete all deliveries by the end of 2026. The air force will closely monitor the production schedule and conduct factory visits to oversee progress.
Lockheed Martin has not yet responded to inquiries about the delays. Additionally, Taiwan has experienced delays in other U.S. weapons deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, due to manufacturing prioritization for Ukraine. This issue has raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers.
While Taiwan's air force remains well-trained, some of its aircraft are aging. This week, a Mirage 2000 fighter jet, which has been in service since 1997, crashed during a training exercise.
Taiwan continues to assert its sovereignty and reject China's claims of control over the island.
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