Based on information from official sources, the Taiwanese Air Force is preparing to receive the first of its new F-16 Block 70 fighters acquired from the U.S. and built by American company Lockheed Martin to the F-16V upgrade program standards. The delivery schedule had faced delays as part of the hold-ups in the transfer of military equipment from the U.S. to Taiwan, amounting to approximately $19 billion.
As part of a $7.69 billion order for 66 of the new F-16V Block 70 variant under the “Soaring Phoenix” acquisition project, the Air Force is expected to receive its first unit by the end of September, according to sources from Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.
The project stipulates that the first batch will be delivered this year, with plans to complete the delivery by 2026. However, the original delivery schedule was set for 2023, which led Taiwan, in August, to consider extending the service life of its Mirage 2000s, which will be replaced by the new F-16Vs.
Taiwan has placed orders for nearly all types of weapons and airborne equipment used by the U.S. Air Force for the F-16 jets, including air-to-air missiles, anti-radiation missiles, precision-guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, and infrared systems. Additionally, while there have been rumors about the purchase of AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, authorities have neither confirmed nor denied this information.
As the first units of the F-16 Block 70 are about to arrive, 65 Taiwanese pilots are undergoing training in the U.S. to serve as instructors.
Modernization of the Existing F-16 Fleet
This renewal process for the Taiwanese Air Force is also framed within the prior advancements of the “Peace Phoenix Rising” program, which aimed to modernize the 139 F-16A/B fighters acquired in 1992 to the Block 70 or F-16V version. This modernization program, valued at $4.5 billion, began in 2016 and was driven by the inability of the U.S. to sell fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Taiwan. The modernization was completed in December 2023, according to the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC).
Key upgrades include the installation of Northrop Grumman’s AESA AN/APG-83 radar, Sniper targeting pods, Link 16 data link systems, and enhanced mission computers. Structurally, reinforcements were made to the wings, fuselage, and landing gear to extend the aircraft’s lifespan and enable them to carry a heavier weapons load. This way, Taiwan can maintain a modern and operational fleet while completing the transition to the new F-16 Block 70s.
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