Taiwan hopes delayed F-16s start arriving by end of this year

14/9/2024 12:23

        Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday it was aiming for delivery of 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 receiving them.
        
        The United States in 2019 approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia, to strengthen its defences in the face of a stepped up threat from China, which views Taiwan as its own.
        
        Taiwan has been converting 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type and has ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems to better face down the Chinese air force, including its J-20 stealth fighter.
        
        But Taiwan has complained of delays for the new F-16Vs, saying problems include software issues.