U.S. to Deliver More F-16s to the Republic of China Air Force Before November

The Republic of China Air Force expects to receive additional F-16C/D Block 70 fighter aircraft from the United States by the end of October, following the arrival of the first two aircraft on October 2. Defence Minister Wellington Koo announced on October 12 that of the 66 aircraft ordered six having progressed to flight testing and acceptance procedures. Of those six, two have already been delivered, two are being retained in the United States to support training, and another two are undergoing acceptance inspections. Officials in Taipei reportedly expect another two aircraft could arrive before the end of the month, although Koo did not confirm a specific delivery number. The procurement, known as the Phoenix Soaring program, covers 66 new F-16 70 fighters ordered in 2019 under a deal valued at approximately US$8.2 billion. The aircraft are intended to replace the  Air Force’s French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighters, which have suffered from significant reliability issues. 

Koo declined to guarantee that all 66 aircraft would be delivered by the end of 2027, saying that Taipei would continue coordinating with Washington to accelerate the programme. The order has been affected by production delays and supply-chain problems, leaving Taiwan waiting for the bulk of the aircraft despite the original delivery schedule. The delays form part of a wider backlog of U.S. arms sales to the Republic of China Armed Forces, which has raised concerns in Taipei about the pace at which new equipment can be delivered and incorporated into service. The Republic of China Ministry of National Defence in July confirmed that it was seeking compensation from the United States and the manufacturer of its new fighters Lockheed Martin. Outstanding backlogs of undelivered U.S. equipment to the Republic of China Armed Forces in December 2025 reached over $21.45 billion. 

Questions have also emerged over the integration of the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield electronic warfare system intended for the new fighters. Republic of China Air Force Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Lee Ching-jan, said some of the system’s hardware had been installed, but software development remained ongoing. Koo explained that the electronic warfare equipment needed to be integrated with the aircraft’s other systems, with testing and certification proceeding according to the established schedule. The statements indicate that the presence of hardware does not necessarily mean the full system is already operational on the aircraft delivered to Taiwan. Viper Shield is designed to improve the F-16’s ability to detect, identify and counter hostile radar and other electronic threats, and provide electronic support measures and electronic countermeasures against increasingly sophisticated air-defence networks.