Second batch of 3 F-16V Block 70 jets departs US for Taiwan
Taiwan is acquiring 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the United States under the Fengxiang project; the first two arrived at Zhi-Hang Air Base in Taitung in October.
Deliveries of the F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States are continuing. The second batch, consisting of three aircraft, recently departed Lockheed Martin’s facility in South Carolina for Texas. The jets are expected to follow the route used by the first batch, flying via Hawaii and Guam before arriving in Taiwan.
According to a Nov. 3 report by the Central News Agency, military enthusiasts overseas recently photographed three F-16V Block 70 jets taking off from the US facility. People familiar with the matter confirmed that the aircraft are part of Taiwan’s procurement program with the United States and are expected to arrive at Zhi-Hang Air Base in Taitung in the near future.
Under the Fengxiang project, the Air Force is procuring 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the United States. The program has a budget of about NT$247.2283 billion, allocated as a continuing appropriation. The first two single-seat aircraft arrived at Zhi-Hang Air Base on Oct. 2, bearing the serial numbers 6727 and 6728.
The three aircraft in the second batch are numbered 6729, 6731 and 6732. Following the route taken by the first batch, they will depart from Texas and fly via Hawaii and Guam before returning to Taiwan.
The F-16V Block 70 is one of the latest variants in the F-16 series. It is equipped with upgraded avionics and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, as well as more advanced mission computers and weapons integration capabilities. Taiwan’s acquisition of the new fighter jets is aimed primarily at strengthening the Air Force’s combat capabilities and modernizing its fleet.
However, delivery of the aircraft is only one part of the broader procurement program. The subsequent stages will also involve pilot training, maintenance capacity, logistical support and operational integration. As the new jets continue to arrive, their delivery schedule and the Air Force’s plans for taking them into service will remain under scrutiny.