Taiwan to receive first new F-16 Viper jets from US
Taiwan has begun receiving the first of 66 new F-16V fighter jets from the United States as part of an $8 billion defense deal. The delivery aims to bolster Taiwan's air defenses amid ongoing military tensions with China.
Why it matters
This delivery highlights the delicate geopolitical balance between the US, Taiwan, and China, especially as future arms packages remain under negotiation.
Taiwan is set to receive the first two of 66 newly built F-16V or Viper fighter jets under a US deal worth around $8 billion, as Taipei moves to strengthen its air defences amid growing Chinese military activity around the island.According to Reuters, the first two aircraft are due to arrive at Taiwan's Taitung Air Base on Friday, marking the start of deliveries under the long-delayed programme.Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more F-16Vs would arrive before the end of the year, with the deliveries eventually taking the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 aircraft.The $8 billion deal was approved by the United States in 2019 and covers 66 new F-16V aircraft built by Lockheed Martin.
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