5 months ago
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Test flights for delayed F-16V combatant jets for Taiwan are owed to commencement this month, with 54 of the 66 craft ordered present successful production, the caput of the island’s aerial unit said connected Monday (December 1, 2025).
Taiwan, which faces a rising subject menace from Beijing, has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the United States, the Chinese-claimed island’s astir important planetary backer and arms supplier.
The United States successful 2019 approved an $8 cardinal merchantability of Lockheed Martin F-16 combatant jets to Taiwan, a woody that would instrumentality the island’s F-16 fleet to much than 200 jets, but the task has been deed by issues including bundle problems.
Speaking to lawmakers successful Parliament, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan said 54 craft were present connected the accumulation line, up from 50 successful October.
Flights tests are owed to statesman this month, helium added.
Lockheed Martin said past period it was moving to accelerate delayed deliveries to Taiwan of the F-16Vs.
The F-16Vs person precocious avionics, weapons and radar systems to amended look down the Chinese aerial force, including its stealthy J-20 fighters.
