Taiwan Receives First Two New F-16V Block 70 Fighter Jets

Taiwan has received the first batch of two new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets it ordered from the United States.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced this on his Facebook page.

The aircraft landed at Chihhan Air Base in Taitung County in eastern Taiwan after flying via Hawaii and Guam.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Ku confirmed to reporters that the next aircraft in this series are expected to arrive soon.

Taiwan’s purchase of new F-16Vs

The contract to purchase 66 F-16V fighter jets, worth $8 billion, was approved back in 2020.

The initial delivery schedule was disrupted due to software issues and production delays.

The purchase agreement will allow the country to expand its total fleet of F-16 fighter jets to over 200 units.

In 2023, it was reported that Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) is completing the upgrade of its fleet of 142 F-16 Block 20 fighters to the Block 70/72 standard.

The F-16V Block 70 variant is one of the most advanced versions of the American multi-role fighter. The main feature of this version is the installation of the APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar from Northrop Grumman.

The aircraft features an upgraded cockpit with modern digital displays, a new onboard computer, a high-bandwidth data bus, and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities.

The fighter is also equipped with the latest ground collision avoidance system and has an extended airframe service life of up to 12,000 flight hours.

In January, an F-16V of the Republic of China Air Force crashed during a training flight from Hualien Air Base.