Marking a significant step forward in the modernization program underway within the Taiwanese Air Force, the U.S. company Lockheed Martin has begun flight testing with what will become the first of the service’s 66 new F-16 Block 70 fighters. This development makes it possible to discern concrete progress in the formation of the fleet intended to take over from the now-aging Mirage 2000s. The tests in question took place just days after confirmation that the manufacturer had conducted ground taxi tests with this aircraft, leading analysts to anticipate the formal start of the delivery phase following a series of delays that have affected the acquisition program.
Expanding on the details known so far, the aircraft involved is identified by the tail number 6831 and corresponds to the two-seat variant. It had been unveiled earlier this year during a ceremony attended by representatives of the U.S. Congress as well as officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. It is also known that the flight test lasted approximately 50 minutes and took place around midday yesterday in South Carolina, specifically at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Greenville.
With these developments in mind, it is worth recalling that Taiwan is in the process of adding 66 new F-16 Block 70 fighters, which will complement the 139 aircraft that have undergone modernization to the Viper standard from the original Block 20 under the program known as Peace Phoenix Rising. Originally, the work was to cover a total of 144 aircraft that made up Taiwan’s fleet, although several accidents led to the loss of airframes and thus affected the scope of the program. Taking both fleets together, once deliveries of the new aircraft are completed, the island will field a total of 205 F-16 fighters.
On the other hand, it is also useful to recall that for this new batch of 66 aircraft, Lockheed Martin indicated earlier this month that around 54 airframes are currently on the assembly line. This is a noteworthy figure, especially considering that in October there were 50 aircraft at that stage, which points to an acceleration in the manufacturing process.
Despite this progress, and returning to the delays faced by the program for these 66 aircraft—into which the island nation has invested close to 8 billion dollars—it should be noted that Taiwan’s legislature has repeatedly expressed concern in parliamentary inquiries. The situation was such that even the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Lee Ching-jan, was summoned to provide clarifications regarding the program. For his part, Defense Minister Wellington Koo sought to offer greater reassurance by stating that an agreement had been reached with the manufacturer to accelerate schedules, including the implementation of double-shift work.
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