Republic of China Defence Delegation Visits U.S. F-16 Production Line Following Major Delivery Delays
Asia-Pacific , Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft

The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence has announced today that Deputy Minister of Military Affairs Hsu Szu-chien led a delegation to the United States to visit the F-16 Block 70 fighter production line in South Carolina to witness the aircraft complete its Lockheed Martin Acceptance Check Flight. The Ministry released a photo the delegation with an assembled fighter jet, which is the second F-16 Block 70 built for the Republic of China Air Force, and the first F-16C single seat variant. The Ministry indicated that delivery will began before the end of the year. The Republic of China Armed Forces are far the largest client for the F-16 Block 70, with an $8.2 billion order having been placed in 2019 for 66 fighters. The order was vital to financing the opening of a new F-16 production line in the United States and covering the costs of developing and serially producing the F-16 Block 70 variant.

The Republic of China Defence Ministry has repeatedly raised concerns over major delays to F-16 deliveries, which were initially intended to be completed deliveries in 2027. Premier Cho Jung-tai in October stated that the government did not rule out “taking legal action against the manufacturer,” although cautioning that the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process did not provide for direct compensation claims. Production and systems integration issues in the United States have been a primary cause for delays. Only one fighter, F-16D number 6831, has been delivered so far. Data from the Taiwan Arms Sales Backlog Tracker in provided an indication of major delays the supplies of a wide range of armaments, with outstanding backlogs having reached over $21.45 billion.

Although the F-16 is widely considered obsolete, having first entered service 49 years ago in 1978, the Block 70 variant significantly improves on the original design with new composite materials, a more powerful engine, modern data links and precision guided weaponry, and the AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the capabilities fielded by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with which the Republic of China Armed Forces remain in state of civil war, has raised serious concerns that the F-16 Block 70 will already close to two full generations behind before deliveries are complete. The Chinese mainland currently has two of the world’s most advanced fifth generation fighters in production, and is scheduled to lead the world by at least five years in fielding sixth generation fighters, with three separate designs already in flight testing.
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Eventually the Wanks will provide the Taiwanese with some second-hand F-16s to make up for the inevitable delay in meeting its contractual obliogations.



