October 4: Taiwan has taken delivery of its first two newly built F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the United States, seven years after the order was approved. The two aircraft landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County at around noon on Friday, October 2, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported. They are the first of 66 jets bought for about $8 billion. President Lai Ching-te called the arrival “an important milestone in strengthening Taiwan’s air defense capabilities”.
Key highlights
- What arrived: Two F-16V Block 70 jets with the tail numbers 6727 and 6728, according to CNA’s Focus Taiwan.
- The order: 66 aircraft, approved by Washington in 2019. AeroTime reported that 56 are single-seat and 10 are two-seat jets.
- The delay: Delivery was first planned to start in 2023, AeroTime said. The two jets also waited in Hawaii for about six weeks before flying on.
- What next: Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more than two jets will be delivered this year.
- Still on hold: A separate US arms package worth $14 billion remains paused, AeroTime reported.
The journey to Taitung
The jets left the US mainland on August 17 and reached Hawaii on August 21, AeroTime reported. They stayed there for roughly six weeks. Focus Taiwan said the aircraft “remained in Hawaii without explanation” while US President Donald Trump prepared for his late-September meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They then flew to Guam and on to Taiwan, about a month later than the end-of-August arrival that had been expected.
No official reason has been given for the wait. Al Jazeera reported that the delivery had been held up for months as Beijing repeatedly asked Washington to stop arming Taiwan. For the outcome of that summit, read: Trump-Xi summit ends with a farm deal, but Taiwan and chips stay unresolved.
The new jets will be flown by the 7th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was set up on December 1, 2023, Focus Taiwan reported. Koo said eastern Taiwan is important for preserving combat capability, but declined to give operational details, according to Taiwan News.
Why the programme is late
The sale was approved in August 2019, during Trump’s first term. AeroTime attributed the delays to the relocation and restart of the F-16 production line, supply chain disruptions and software issues. It also reported that the jets arrived without their Viper Shield electronic warfare system, which is still in testing.
Taiwan News put the programme cost at NT$247.22 billion (about US$7.75 billion). Koo said later deliveries will come in stages on a schedule agreed with the United States. AeroTime reported that the remaining jets are expected in 2027 and 2028.
What the F-16V adds
The Block 70 is the newest production version of the F-16. It carries the AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, conformal fuel tanks and strengthened landing gear, AeroTime reported. Al Jazeera noted that its upgraded avionics, weapons and radar are meant to help Taiwan counter China’s J-20 stealth fighters.
Once all 66 are delivered, Taiwan’s F-16 fleet will number more than 200 aircraft, according to AeroTime. Al Jazeera pointed out that the United States remains unwilling to sell Taiwan its most advanced fighters, the F-22 and F-35.
What Washington and Taipei said
A US State Department spokesperson said: “We continue standing with friends and allies across the Indo-Pacific to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values — that includes Taiwan,” as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Koo told reporters that “there will be more than two jets delivered this year”, Focus Taiwan reported. Al Jazeera said there is growing concern in Taiwan about how committed the Trump administration is to arming the island. The reports reviewed for this article do not carry a reaction from Beijing to the delivery.
The bigger picture
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and opposes all US arms sales to the island. Taiwan’s air force scrambles almost daily in response to Chinese military activity, AeroTime noted. The government in Taipei rejects Beijing’s claim.
The two jets are a small part of a large order. The separate $14 billion package was paused by the Trump administration after objections from Beijing, AeroTime reported. For background, read our earlier report: China-Taiwan tensions: hybrid warfare and the PLA build-up.
Sources
- Focus Taiwan (CNA): Taiwan receives first 2 F-16V Block 70s
- Al Jazeera: US delivers F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan as island eyes threat from China
- Taiwan News: Taiwan receives first 2 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from US
- AeroTime: Taiwan receives first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 jets amid rising Chinese pressure
The International Desk covers world and Asian affairs, diplomacy and conflict, with a focus on what they mean for India. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
