Taiwan’s first two F-16 Viper Block 70 fighter jets are expected to arrive soon, following a delay from their originally scheduled 2023 delivery.
The aircraft were recently seen departing Lockheed Martin’s facility in South Carolina and subsequently reached Guam, according to Taiwan News. The fighters are now waiting for suitable weather conditions before continuing to Chihang Air Force Base in Taitung, located on Taiwan’s southeastern coast. Once there, they will undergo ground inspections and conversion training.
Lockheed Martin plans to complete deliveries of the remaining aircraft by 2028. After entering service, the new F-16s will be assigned to the 7th Tactical Fighter Wing in eastern Taiwan.
Taiwan’s F-16 Fleet
The Republic of China Air Force currently operates 150 F-16A/B fighters acquired during the 1990s. These aircraft underwent upgrades to the F-16V Block 20 configuration between 2016 and 2023.
In August 2019, the US State Department approved a proposed $8 billion foreign military sale covering 66 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft and associated equipment.
The new fighters incorporate capabilities such as beyond-visual-range combat, F110 engines, and active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, strengthening Taiwan’s air-defense capabilities amid increasing Chinese military activity in the region.
The first aircraft were initially scheduled for delivery in 2023. However, supply-chain disruptions, production delays, and software integration challenges pushed the expected arrival of the first batch to 2026.
