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Taiwan Quick Take: F16 delegation heads to US

A military delegation from Taiwan is scheduled to visit Washington on Thursday on a five-day visit to explore the possibility of procuring 60 F-16C/D fighter planes from the US, according to a report carried in the latest issue of the Defense News weekly. The report said Taiwan intends to buy the advanced F-16C/D fighters to replace its aging warplane fleet. Taiwan now has 146 F-16A/B fighters, 128 indigenously developed IDF fighters, 56 Mirage 2000-5 fighters and 60 F-5 fighters. According to the report, the delegation will discuss details about the planned F-16C/D fighter deal with US Defense Department officials. Quoting Pentagon sources, the report said that even if Taiwan and the US can cut a deal this year, the delivery of the planes will not happen until after 2011 or 2012 because of the time required for paperwork and production.


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