Lockheed Martin yesterday said it is working to accelerate delayed deliveries to Taiwan of new F-16Vs, after the Ministry of National Defense said that the program had been pushed back due to supply chain issues.
Taiwan has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the US, its most important international backer and arms supplier.
In a report to lawmakers on Monday, the ministry said the delivery of all 66 F-16Vs, initially expected to arrive by the end of next year, had been pushed back due to production line relocations and disruptions.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
To speed up production, contractors are working two shifts lasting 20 hours a day, the ministry said, adding that Taiwan would monitor progress to ensure contractual obligations are met.
Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said that Taiwan and the US are working on the delays, and that 50 of the Lockheed Martin aircraft were already on the production line.
Of those, 10 are expected to undergo flight tests this year and be delivered next year, Koo said.
“I think that we all hope the greatest amount of effort can be exerted to speed up the deliveries,” he said.
The delivery of 24 MK-48 torpedoes and four dummy torpedoes, purchased for NT$5.46 billion (US$176.66 million) and initially expected by next year, had been postponed to between next year and 2028, also due to production line disruptions, the ministry said.
Lockheed in an e-mailed statement yesterday said that it was committed to delivering “mission-critical capabilities” to Taiwan with the F-16 fleet to support its air defenses.
That includes the 66 new F-16Vs, along with Taiwan’s F-16 Viper upgrade program, which was completed in December 2023, the company said.
“We continue to work closely with the US government to accelerate delivery timelines where possible, while ensuring a safe and compliant product,” it added.
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