Taiwan’s top defence Chief Calls Timeline that the on-time delivery of a crucial batch of new US F-16V Block 70 fighter jets is “challenging,”

Taiwan’s top defence officials have conceded that the on-time delivery of a crucial batch of new US F-16V Block 70 fighter jets is “challenging,” highlighting growing domestic concern over recurring delays in one of the island’s most important military procurement programmes intended to shore up its air defence against Beijing.

Headline Points

 • Key Concern: Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung expressed doubt that the full consignment of 66 F-16V fighter jets, valued at an estimated $8 billion, would be delivered by the planned completion deadline of the end of 2026.

 • Reason for Delay: The US manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, has reportedly been beset by system integration issues and recurring delays at US assembly lines, affecting the production schedule.

 • Air Force Risk Assessment: Lieutenant General Li Ching-jang, Chief of Staff of the Taiwanese Air Force, concurred, stating that the “risk assessment is quite high” regarding compliance with the agreed timeline, an assessment that reverses previous confidence.

 • Strategic Impact: The delay severely impacts Taiwan’s efforts to modernise its air fleet and replace older, less capable aircraft in the face of escalating military pressure and frequent incursions from China.

Full Delivery by 2026 Now in Doubt

The issue came to a head during a recent legislative session in Taipei, where officials faced intense questioning over the status of the fighter jet programme. Taiwan’s acquisition of 66 advanced F-16 Block 70 jets is a cornerstone of its air defence modernization efforts, aimed at countering China’s rapidly expanding air power.

Defence Minister Koo acknowledged the severity of the challenge. While the first of the new-build jets was unveiled in the US earlier this year, not a single aircraft has been delivered to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF).

“Completing the full handover on schedule will be indeed challenging,” Koo conceded to lawmakers, though he maintained that the overall outlook was “already improving” and initial deliveries could begin next year.

The procurement plan originally projected a much faster delivery rate, with a substantial number of aircraft expected to roll off the production line in 2025.

This has now been significantly revised, prompting the Air Force’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Li Ching-jang, to state that the air service is evaluating the need to extend the implementation deadlines for the budget allocated for the aircraft.

Technical Hurdles and Geopolitical Ramifications

The primary cause for the setback is reported to be technical. The F-16V variant, described as one of the world’s most advanced fourth-generation fighters, requires complex system integration and testing for its upgraded radar, targeting systems, and electronic warfare capabilities.

This technical complexity, coupled with broader supply chain issues plaguing the US defence industrial base, has pushed the entire programme past its original milestones.

For Taiwan, the delay carries significant geopolitical weight. The island relies heavily on US arms sales to maintain a credible deterrent against China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunified by force if necessary.

As the timeline for acquiring these vital air assets stretches, concerns are mounting in Taipei that the capability gap with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force will only widen, potentially weakening the island’s self-defence capabilities during a period of peak tension in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwanese officials confirmed that regular discussions are being held with their US counterparts to resolve the persistent supply and technical issues and expedite the delivery of the F-16Vs and other backlogged military equipment.