▲ An upgraded F-16V fighter jet in Taiwan
Amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, the first batch of two U.S.-made F-16V Block 70 fighter jets arrived in Taiwan on October 2.
According to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) and Reuters, the F-16V fighter jets departed from Hawaii, passed through Guam, and landed at the Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, eastern Taiwan.
This marks the arrival of new fighter jets in Taiwan for the first time in 29 years, following the introduction of Mirage 2000 fighter jets purchased from France's Dassault in 1992 and delivered to Taiwan in 1997.
Previously, the U.S. approved an $8 billion (approx. 10.8 trillion won) sale of 66 F-16V jets to Taiwan by Lockheed Martin in 2019.
Once all 66 aircraft are delivered, Taiwan's total fleet of F-16 fighter jets will increase to around 200.
Taiwan expects this to enable an effective response to Chinese military aircraft frequently entering its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) or crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that additional F-16Vs will arrive soon, though he did not disclose a specific schedule.
CNA assessed that the long-awaited arrival of the F-16Vs is the latest milestone in U.S.-Taiwan defense cooperation.
Reuters reported that it will help strengthen the strategic capabilities of Taiwan's air force, which faces near-daily threats from the Chinese military.
The newly arrived jets reached Hawaii on September 21, but remained at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu due to equipment malfunction issues and considerations surrounding the U.S.-China summit held in the U.S. last month.
These fighter jets are advanced 4.5-generation aircraft, reported to be operable through the 2060s.
They are expected to enhance the operational capabilities of Taiwan's military by being equipped with a variety of advanced air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-ship weapons.
In addition, they are equipped with the latest AN/APG-83 AESA radar and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems, which are evaluated to provide improved detection and response capabilities against China's fifth-generation stealth fighter J-20 and next-generation stealth carrier-based aircraft J-35 compared to existing F-16s.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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