Taiwan receives first two US F-16V jets from delayed 65-aircraft order

Taiwan on Friday received the first two of the 65 F-16V fighter jets it ordered from the United States in 2019, marking the first delivery in a long-pending set of US defence orders. The island's air force said the two F-16V Block 70 jets landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung after years of delays.

The delivery comes as Taiwan continues to strengthen its defences amid military pressure from China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory. Taiwan also remains in continuous discussions with the US over weapons sales, its defence minister said earlier this week.

Taiwan relies largely on arms purchases from the US, its biggest unofficial ally, as China sends fighter jets and ships towards the island almost every day. The latest shipment is the first in a wider backlog of US orders worth nearly USD 30 billion.

According to Taiwan Security Monitor at George Mason University, the F-16V deal is worth USD 8 billion and makes up about 25 per cent of the full backlog. The order had been delayed partly because of production and supply chain problems.

The arrival of the jets also comes as Taiwan awaits approval from the US administration for an additional USD 14 billion arms package. That package has stalled after US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in May. US defence sales to Taiwan remain a major source of tension between Washington and Beijing, with China repeatedly urging the US to stop such sales.

With the first two jets now delivered and 63 more still to come, the F-16V programme is a significant part of Taiwan's pending US arms orders as the island continues talks with Washington and faces continued pressure from China.

With PTI Inputs

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