By Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Friday it aims to deliver the first new F-16V fighter jets by the end of this year, blaming “acute fluctuations” in the international situation for delays in the island that receives them.
The United States approved $8 billion in sales in 2019 Lockheed Martin (NYSE:) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 fighter jets, the largest in Asia, to bolster defenses in the face of an increased threat from China, that considers Taiwan as its own country.
Taiwan has converted 141 F-16A/B jets to the F-16V type and has ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which feature advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems to better support China’s air force, including the J-20 stealth to cope. fighter.
But Taiwan has complained about delays for the new F-16Vs, saying the problems include software glitches.
In an update on deliveries, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the first batch of new F-16Vs would be shipped in the third quarter of this year.
“Due to acute fluctuations in the international situation, which have resulted in a compound impact, such as delays in deliveries from some suppliers and adjustments to the US assembly schedule, there has been a partial adjustment in when they will leave the factory,” the report said . in a statement.
The ministry will “aim to complete the shipment of the first aircraft in the fourth quarter.”
The Air Force will closely monitor the production schedule and conduct factory visits with the aim of completing deliveries by the end of 2026, it added.
Lockheed Martin told Reuters it is “grateful for the trust Taiwan has placed in us through its F-16 programs.”
“In partnership with the US government, Lockheed Martin is focused on developing F-16 capabilities,” it added.
The US State Department said long delivery dates are not a Taiwan-specific problem.
“The U.S. government is actively reviewing our policies and processes to ensure we resolve arms sales cases as quickly as possible, especially for Taiwan,” the report said in a statement.
Taiwan has reported delays in deliveries of U.S. weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles since 2022 as manufacturers deliver supplies to Ukraine to help the country fight Russian forces, and the issue has concerned U.S. lawmakers.
Taiwan’s air force is well trained, but some fighter jets are aging, including the French-made Mirage 2000 fleet first received in 1997. One crashed into the sea this week during a training exercise.
The air force has repeatedly tried to keep Chinese military aircraft away from the island over the past five years.
The Taiwanese government rejects Chinese sovereignty claims.
