Taiwan receives first two of 66 US F-16V fighters after months of delay
In short
Taiwan received the first two of the 66 F-16V Block 70 fighters it bought from the United States, landing at Taitung's Zhi-Hang air base around noon on Oct 2, about seven years after Washington approved the 8 billion dollar sale. Taiwan's defense minister, Gu Li-Hsiung, said the two jets would not be the only ones delivered by the end of the year, without giving a schedule. The delivery came about a week after a Trump–Xi summit in Washington, with a proposed 14 billion dollar arms package still held up, according to Hankook Ilbo.
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The first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighters Taiwan purchased from the United States landed at Taitung's Zhi-Hang air base in eastern Taiwan around noon on Oct 2, according to Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap. Hankook Ilbo said the jets flew via Hawaii and Guam. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The delivery comes about seven years after the United States approved the sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters to Taiwan in 2019 for 8 billion dollars, and after months of delay caused by software problems that Taiwan has complained about to Washington, its largest arms supplier, Hankook Ilbo reported. It is the first new fighter introduced in Taiwan in 29 years, since the French Mirage 2000 in 1997, the same report said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Taiwan's defense minister, Gu Li-Hsiung, told reporters at parliament before the landing that “of course the two aircraft delivered by the end of the year will not be the only ones,” Hankook Ilbo reported, adding that he did not disclose a specific schedule. Once deliveries are complete, Taiwan's F-16 fleet will exceed 200 aircraft, according to the same report. [ 1 ]
Yonhap described the F-16V Block 70 as the newest version of the F-16, equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Viper Shield electronic warfare system, which it said can disrupt enemy air-defense radars and missile guidance. It can also carry advanced guided weapons including the AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9X, Yonhap said. Hankook Ilbo reported that the jets are expected to improve Taiwan's ability to counter China's J-20 stealth fighter, that Taiwan's air force scrambles almost daily to monitor Chinese military aircraft, and that an upgrade of its existing F-16s was completed in 2023. [ 1 , 2 ]
The delivery took place about a week after a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, Hankook Ilbo reported. The report said Trump approved an 11 billion dollar Taiwan arms sale last December but, after meeting Xi in Beijing in May, has held up a new 14 billion dollar package. China has repeatedly demanded that the United States stop arms support for Taiwan, and Reuters reported that the delivery came as concerns grow in Taiwan over the Trump administration's willingness to back the island, according to Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 ]
A US State Department spokesperson said there is no change in policy toward Taiwan, saying the United States will “continue to work with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, to advance shared prosperity, security and values,” as quoted by Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The arrival gives Taiwan's air force its first new fighter type since 1997, at a time when it scrambles almost daily to monitor Chinese military aircraft, Hankook Ilbo reported. It also comes as Taiwan's government has questioned the pace of US arms deliveries and as a larger sale remains on hold, a point Reuters raised in the same report. Because only two of 66 aircraft have arrived, the effect on Taiwan's fleet depends on a delivery schedule the documents say has not been made public.
Key facts
- The first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighters Taiwan bought from the United States landed at Taitung's Zhi-Hang air base in eastern Taiwan on Oct 2. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The United States approved the sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters to Taiwan in 2019 for 8 billion dollars. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It is the first new fighter aircraft introduced in Taiwan in 29 years, since the French Mirage 2000 in 1997. [ 1 ]
- Taiwan's defense minister, Gu Li-Hsiung, said before the landing that the two jets would not be the only ones delivered by the end of the year, and did not disclose a schedule. [ 1 ]
- The F-16V Block 70 carries AESA radar, the Viper Shield electronic warfare suite and integrates AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9X guided missiles. [ 2 ]
- The delivery was delayed by months because of software problems, and Taiwan has raised complaints with the United States, its largest arms supplier. [ 1 ]
- Once deliveries are complete, Taiwan's F-16 fleet will exceed 200 aircraft; an upgrade of its existing F-16s was finished in 2023. [ 1 ]
- The landing came about a week after a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, and after Trump held up a new 14 billion dollar arms package following a May meeting with Xi in Beijing. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The delivery schedule for the remaining 64 aircraft. Hankook Ilbo says the defense minister would not disclose specific timing beyond saying more jets would arrive by the end of the year, and no other document gives a schedule.
- Whether the United States will proceed with the 14 billion dollar arms package that Hankook Ilbo says is being held up. Single-source detail from Hankook Ilbo; the documents report the package is being withheld but give no decision or timeline.
- The precise date and details of the Trump–Xi meeting in Washington. Hankook Ilbo says only that the delivery came about a week after the summit; no date is given and no other document mentions the meeting.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On Oct 2, two F-16V fighters land at Taitung's Zhi-Hang air base in eastern Taiwan after flying via Hawaii and Guam. [ 1 ]
- On Oct 2, Hankook Ilbo publishes its report, quoting Taiwan's defense minister that more deliveries are expected before the end of the year. [ 1 ]
- On Oct 4, Yonhap publishes a video report on the arrival, describing the F-16V Block 70's radar and electronic warfare systems. [ 2 ]
- On Oct 4, Yonhap publishes a short-form version of the same report. [ 3 ]