Now Reading: Taiwan set to receive first new F-16s under $8-billion US deal
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Taiwan set to receive first new F-16s under $8-billion US deal
Taiwan will receive its first two of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighters under a $8-billion US deal approved in 2019 but delayed by several years. The aircraft were sighted at Lockheed…
Taiwan will receive its first two of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighters under a $8-billion US deal approved in 2019 but delayed by several years. The aircraft were sighted at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth facility in Texas, FlightGlobal reported, and are being prepared for delivery to the island.
Taiwan already operates 150 F-16A/B Block 20 fighters bought in the 1990s and has upgraded 141 of them to F-16V standard under its Phoenix Rising programme. The new Block 70 jets add modern combat capability as China increases air and naval operations around Taiwan.
The F-16 first flew in 1974 and remains in production across 29 countries, with Lockheed Martin citing 2,800 aircraft in service. Its continuous upgrades, including AESA radar, modern avionics and electronic warfare systems, allow the platform to stay relevant without the cost of operating fifth-generation fighters across an entire fleet.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Taiwan's geography, 160 km from mainland China at the closest point, means its airfields are within minutes of Chinese missile and fighter range. The 66 new F-16Vs plus the existing 141 upgraded jets give Taiwan roughly 200 modern fourth-generation fighters, but China fields over 1,500 combat aircraft including J-20 stealth jets. Washington's $8-billion deal, approved despite Beijing's objections, tests the US commitment to Taiwan's self-defence under the Taiwan Relations Act. The first two jets will likely arrive in 2025, with full delivery spread over several years.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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