Due to the delayed incorporation of the new F-16 Block 70 fighter jets for the Taiwanese Air Force, island authorities recently hinted that the first newly manufactured aircraft is nearing presentation and entry into service. During a legislative session, it was reported that Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Defense, along with other civilian and military officials, will travel to the United States in the coming weeks to witness the presentation of the first combat aircraft from the purchase of 66 new units manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Taiwan’s journey toward modernizing its fighter fleet began some time ago when, given the inability to acquire fifth-generation F-35 jets, the U.S. government offered a fleet modernization program for Taiwan’s F-16s, alongside the sale of newly built fighters produced by Lockheed Martin. This initiative materialized in the Peace Phoenix Rising program, valued at $4.5 billion, which included upgrading the 139 F-16A/B jets acquired in 1992 to the Block 70 version (designated F-16V). Additionally, the program encompassed the nearly $8 billion sale of 66 newly manufactured units of the same variant.
By December 2023, the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center confirmed the successful completion of the upgrade process for Taiwan’s fleet of 139 F-16 Block 15 jets to the Block 70 Viper standard. However, the second aspect—the delivery of new F-16 Block 70 fighters—has faced scheduling delays. Although the original timeline planned for initial deliveries in 2023, this deadline was not met due to setbacks in U.S. military equipment supply chains, totaling approximately $19 billion in delayed provisions. These delays prompted Taiwanese authorities to consider extending the operational lifespan of their Mirage 2000 fighters, which are expected to be replaced by the incoming F-16V fleet.
Nonetheless, without further explanation, the anticipated 2024 delivery was also missed. Despite this, the recent announcement of an official delegation traveling to the U.S.—something that had not occurred in previous instances—reinforces the notion that at least the first unit’s handover is imminent.
In addition to the legislative session’s reports, Taiwan’s Minister of Defense confirmed that the first aircraft has completed its assembly at Lockheed Martin’s facilities and is undergoing various ground tests. However, it was not specified whether this first unit has already begun its test flights, similar to what has been observed with the F-16 Block 70 jets recently presented and delivered to the air forces of Bahrain, Slovakia, and, most recently, Bulgaria.
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