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Taiwan may receive six more F-16 fighter jets from US by end of October

14 October 2026 09:00 (UTC +04:00)

Taiwan may receive six new F-16V fighter jets from the United States by the end of October, said Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo, APA reports.

According to the Taipei Times newspaper, six of the 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered from the United States have passed factory inspections and rolled off the production line.

Wellington Koo expressed hope that the new aircraft would be delivered to Taiwan by the end of this month.

It was noted that two more F-16 fighter jets were delivered to Taiwan on October 2.

It should be recalled that Taiwan ordered 66 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in 2019 under an arms supply program approved during US President Donald Trump's first term.

Under the original plan, the first aircraft were scheduled to be delivered in 2023. However, deliveries were delayed for various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although Taiwan expected all the fighter jets to be delivered by the end of 2026, it is now considered unlikely that the entire order will be fulfilled within that timeframe.

Taiwanese officials have repeatedly expressed concern over delays in the delivery of US-made military aircraft.