By Ben Blanchard
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Friday it aims to deliver its first new F-16 fighter jets by the end of this year, blaming “severe fluctuations” in the international situation for delaying the island’s delivery.
In 2019, the United States approved $8 billion in arms sales. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would boost the island’s fleet of F-16s to more than 200, the largest in Asia, to bolster its defenses against a growing threat from China, which considers Taiwan a satellite state.
Taiwan has begun converting 141 F-16A/Bs to F-16Vs and has ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems to better counter China’s air force, including its J-20 stealth fighter.
But Taiwan has complained about delays in delivering the new F-16s, saying problems include software issues.
In an update on deliveries, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the first batch of new F-16Vs was scheduled to be delivered in the third quarter of this year.
“Due to the severe fluctuations in the international situation, which led to a compounding effect such as delays in delivery from some suppliers and adjustments to the assembly schedule in the United States, there was a partial adjustment in the date of their exit from the factory,” the company said in a statement.
The ministry added that it “will seek to complete the shipment of the first plane in the fourth quarter.”
The Air Force will closely monitor the production schedule and conduct factory visits with the goal of completing deliveries by the end of 2026, she added.
Lockheed Martin told Reuters it was “grateful for the trust Taiwan has placed in us regarding its F-16 program.”
“In partnership with the U.S. government, Lockheed Martin is focused on advancing the capabilities of the F-16,” the company added in its statement.
The US State Department said long delivery times were not a particular challenge for Taiwan.
“The US government is actively reviewing our policies and processes to ensure that arms sales issues are moved forward as quickly as possible, particularly with respect to Taiwan,” she said in a statement.
Taiwan has reported delays in deliveries of US weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles since 2022, as manufacturers provide supplies to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces, an issue that has raised concerns among US lawmakers.
Taiwan’s air force is well-trained but some of its fighter jets are aging, including its fleet of French-made Mirage 2000s, which were first delivered in 1997. One of those aircraft crashed into the sea this week during a training exercise.
The air force has sent several aircraft to monitor Chinese military aircraft flying near the island over the past five years.
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
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