Air force set to receive 66 F-16V jets over two yearsDEFENSE: The US originally approved the sale of the Block 70 jets in 2019, and since then the military has invested NT$140.2 billion into upgrading its existing Block 20 jetsBy Aaron Tu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe air force would receive 66 more F-16V Block 70 jets in the next two years, and would send 65 pilots to the US for specialized tactical training, a source said yesterday. All of the air force’s 140 F-16V Block 20 fighters in active service have already been upgraded with newer equipment, and the air force would acquire more advanced Block 70 jets beginning this year, the source said. A F-16V lands at the air base in Hualien, Taiwan, August 17, 2022. Photo: ReutersThe US originally approved the sale of the Block 70 jets in 2019, and since then Taiwan’s military has invested NT$140.2 billion (US$4.56 billion) into upgrading its existing Block 20 jets. Flight training — originally handled by the Air Force Academy — is now to be handled by a separate training unit in the air force headed by a major general, the source said.
