Taitung:Taiwan Taiwan has taken delivery of the first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased from the United States, marking a significant milestone in the defense cooperation between the two nations. The aircraft landed at Chihhang Air Base, located in Taitung County, around noon.

According to Focus Taiwan, the acquisition of these jets is part of Taiwan's "Peace Phoenix Soaring" project, which involves an expenditure of NT$247.2 billion (approximately US$8 billion) between 2020 and 2026. The original schedule aimed to complete deliveries by the end of this year, but the timeline was affected by production line relocations and supply chain issues.

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of these fighter jets in August 2019, a transaction valued at an estimated US$8 billion. This sale was the first major defense equipment transaction authorized by Washington for Taipei following the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act and the Taiwan Assurance Act. These laws underscore U.S. support for Taiwan's self-defense.

Taiwan's decision to purchase the F-16V jets came after abandoning plans to acquire the more advanced F-35B fighter due to costs. The F-16V Block 70 is equipped with advanced systems like the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 AESA radar and the L3Harris AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield suite, enhancing its combat capabilities. These jets are expected to bolster air defense in the eastern Hualien-Taitung area.

The addition of these jets will increase Taiwan's F-16 fleet to one of the largest worldwide. Taiwan has also played a key role in the F-16V upgrade program, receiving royalties from international sales and upgrades. The Taichung-based Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. operates a maintenance center, further enhancing Taiwan's defense industry capabilities.

The F-16V Block 70's enhanced features, including increased payload and range, will allow Taiwan's Air Force to conduct broader missions, potentially extending to strikes against Chinese coastal and maritime targets.