Deliveries of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters for Taiwan appear to have slipped again, possibly extending into 2027.
The 66 jets are unlikely to arrive before the end of 2026, according to reports citing air force chief Lee Ching-Jan, who was speaking to legislators.
He said that Lockheed has recruited more personnel and increased work hours at its Greenville, South Carolina factory, but that that this will be insufficient to meet the end-2026 delivery target.
Lee indicates that 10 Taiwanese aircraft will be assembled and tested by the end of 2025.
Lee’s remarks come six months after Taiwan’s first F-16 Block 70, a two-seat F-16D, was rolled out during a ceremony at Greenville. The F-16 Block 70 is powered by a GE Aerospace F110 engine.
Media reports from Taiwan suggested that the aircraft will arrive in the country later this year.
F-16 production at Greenville was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and supply chain issues, pushing back deliveries of new-build F-16s for foreign customers.
The F-16 is the cornerstone of Taiwanese airpower. In late 2023, Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation completed an upgrade programme for 139 Republic of China Air Force F-16s, taking them to the more advanced F-16V configuration – equivalent to the new-build Block 70 standard.
