Taiwan has received the first two of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered from the United States, giving its air force a long-awaited addition to its combat fleet.
The aircraft landed at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung on Friday, October 2, after flying through Hawaii and Guam. The delivery is part of an $8 billion US arms deal approved in 2019.
It also comes at a sensitive moment, with Taiwan facing sustained military pressure from China and questions in Taipei over the pace of US weapons deliveries.
🇹🇼🇺🇸🇨🇳 Taiwan finally got its first new F-16V fighter jets today, 7 years after the U.S. approved the sale.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 2, 2026
The first 2 of 66 jets from the $8 billion deal landed after months of delays, including software problems, as Taiwan's air force scrambles almost daily to shadow China's…
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A new feather in Taiwan’s cap
The F-16V Block 70 is a newer version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It comes with modern avionics, improved radar and updated weapons systems.
The aircraft are designed to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to deal with China’s air force, including its J-20 stealth fighters.
The United States, however, has not agreed to provide Taiwan with its most advanced fighters, such as the F-22 or F-35.
Taiwan already operates F-16s, and the new jets will eventually push its total F-16 fleet above 200 aircraft.
The jets took their time getting there
The delivery has taken much longer than originally planned. The US approved the sale in 2019, with deliveries expected to begin in 2023. But the programme was hit by technical and production-related delays.
Reuters specifically cited software problems, while Taiwan’s Central News Agency said the programme was also affected by the relocation and restart of the production line and supply-chain disruptions.
The first two jets were expected in Taiwan by the end of August but remained in Hawaii before finally making the journey to the island. That delay added to wider concerns in Taiwan about a backlog in US weapons deliveries.
Taiwan has received the first 2 of its 66 F-16V Viper fighter jets purchased from the United States.
— Conflict Radar (@Conflict_Radar) October 2, 2026
The fighters landed at Chihhang Air Base, southeastern Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/dxuY8ufPOn
Timing of the delivery matters
The timing of the arrival also matters. The two aircraft reached Taiwan about a week after US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.
Beijing has repeatedly opposed US arms sales to Taiwan and has called on Washington to stop arming the island.
Washington, meanwhile, has said there has been no change in its policy and continues to describe Taiwan as part of its security commitments in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more F-16Vs would arrive, without giving a detailed schedule. President Lai Ching-te called the delivery an important development for Taiwan’s air defence capabilities.
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A sizeable backdrop
For Taiwan, the arrival is therefore about more than two new aircraft. It is the first visible delivery from a major fighter purchase that has been delayed for years.
The F-16Vs will add newer sensors, avionics and weapons to an air force that has to respond frequently to Chinese military activity around the island.
At the same time, the delivery highlights how closely Taiwan’s defence planning remains linked to the United States, even though Washington and Taipei do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.