Taiwanese officials shown 1st F-16V jet due this yearStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the ministry said. The photo was released by the Ministry of National Defense yesterday. The ministry said it will continue working with the US through existing security cooperation mechanisms to speed up delivery of the aircraft.

Source: Taipei Times March 21, 2026 17:14 UTC