The delivery of 66 advanced modern F-16Vs from the United States has been delayed owing to supply chain issues, according to Taiwan’s Minister of Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng, who added that the ministry is attempting to minimize the harm and “make up deficiencies”.
In order to bolster its defenses against a rising threat from China, which claims Taiwan as its own, the United States approved a $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan in 2019. With this deal, the island’s F-16 fleet would increase to more than 200 aircraft, making it the largest in Asia.
Taiwan has been converting 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type and has in addition ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have new avionics, weapons and radar systems to better face down the Chinese air force, including its J-20 stealth fighter.
The first of the new F-16Vs was meant to be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year but that has been delayed to the third quarter of next year due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, the ministry said.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Chiu said Taiwan had asked the United States to “make up the deficiency”, including prioritising spare part deliveries for the existing fleet.
“Multiple channels are being used, and we are minimising the damage from this,” he said, adding they still expected to get the full order delivered before 2026.
The ministry is using diplomatic channels, such as via the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, to resolve the problem, Chiu said.
The de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan, did not respond to a request for comment.
Lockheed Martin said it has a long-standing partnership with Taiwan, supporting its national defense, interoperability with the United States and ensuring regional security. The company said further questions regarding Taiwan foreign military sales should be directed to the U.S. government and the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense.
Taiwan has since last year complained of delays to U.S. weapons deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers turn supplies to Ukraine as it battles invading Russian forces, and the issue has concerned U.S. lawmakers.
Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a visit to Taipei last month that he was doing everything possible to speed up arms deliveries.