Askume North, Sept 13 – Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on Friday it aims to receive its first batch of new F-16V fighter jets by the end of this year as the island faces international pressure to delay deliveries.
The United States approved the sale of $8 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan in 2019, a deal that would bring Taiwan’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 planes, the largest in Asia.
Taiwan is converting 141 F-16A/B jets to the F-16V variant and has ordered 66 new F-16V aircraft, which have advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems for better support. The Chinese Air Force also includes the J-16.
But Taiwan has complained of delays in its new F-16V aircraft, saying they involve software problems .
Revealing delivery information, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the first batch of new F-16Vs will be delivered in the third quarter of this year.
The statement said: “Due to the rapid fluctuations in the international situation, which has caused complex effects such as delays in deliveries from some suppliers and adjustments to assembly schedules in the United States, some adjustments have been made to factory delivery times.”
The department “will attempt to complete shipment of the first aircraft in the fourth quarter.”
It is said that the Air Force will closely monitor production progress and visit the factory, with the goal of completing deliveries by the end of 2026.
Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan has reported delays in deliveries of US weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles starting in 2022 as manufacturers send supplies to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces , an issue that concerns US lawmakers .
Taiwan’s air force is well-trained, but some of its combat aircraft are aging, including a fleet of French-made Mirage 2000s first acquired in 1997. One of the planes crashed into the sea during a training exercise this week.
Over the past five years, the Air Force has repeatedly attempted to disperse Chinese military aircraft flying near the island.
The Taiwanese government rejects China’s claim to sovereignty.
