Taiwan Receives First F-16V Jets Amid U.S. Arms Backlog
Taiwan received the first two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets on Friday, beginning the delivery of a 65-jet order delayed by supply chain issues.
The Taiwan Air Force received the first two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets on Friday at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung. This delivery marks the beginning of a 65-jet order placed in 2019, which faced years of delays due to production and supply chain complications.
The F-16V package is valued at $8 billion and is part of a larger $30 billion backlog of United States arms orders. Taiwan relies on these weapons to counter frequent military incursions by China, which claims the island as part of its territory.
While the fighter jets have arrived, a separate $14 billion arms package remains stalled. This delay follows a May meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Beijing continues to pressure Washington to halt all military sales to the island.
