Taiwan City [Taiwan], September 14: In an update, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the initial batch of F-16V fighters is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2024, Reuters reported.
"Due to the strong fluctuations in the international situation, resulting in a double impact such as delays in deliveries by some suppliers and adjustments to the assembly schedule in the US, there has been a partial adjustment in the timing of when the aircraft will leave the factory," the agency informed, adding that efforts will be made to complete the delivery of the aircraft in the last quarter of this year.
Taiwan is in the process of converting its 141 early-model F-16A/B fighters to the F-16V, nicknamed the "Viper," which has more modern avionics, radar and weapons. Taiwan has ordered 66 F-16Vs, but officials have complained about delays in the delivery of the F-16s and said there are software issues.
In 2019, the US approved an $8 billion deal to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Under the deal, Washington will provide 66 fighter jets to Taiwan to boost its defense capabilities.
Taiwan said it will closely monitor the production schedule and aims to receive all the upgraded F-16s by the end of 2026. If the deal is completed, Taiwan could have a fleet of more than 200 F-16 fighters of all versions.
Lockheed Martin (USA), the manufacturer of the F-16, said it was "grateful for Taiwan's confidence in the F-16 program." Meanwhile, the US State Department said it would review policies and procedures to be able to promote arms transfer agreements as soon as possible.
Some of Taiwan's fighters are old, including the French Mirage 2000 squadron , which was received in 1997. On September 10, a Mirage crashed into the sea, and the pilot had to use an ejection seat to escape. Following the incident, Taiwan grounded its Mirage squadron for safety checks.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper