On Friday, 2026, two Lockheed Martin‑built F‑16V fighters touched down at Taiwan’s Taitung air base, the first of a planned 66‑aircraft fleet under an $8 billion U.S. defense contract.
Wellington Koo, Taiwan’s defence minister, said the jets carry upgraded avionics and engines that will extend the island’s deterrent against China’s growing air power.
The delivery follows a long‑standing lag in U.S. shipments, with Koo noting that production lines are ramping up but confirming that all 66 units will arrive only after 2026.
Meanwhile, Washington has held back a separate $14 billion arms package that includes Patriot batteries, citing Chinese protests; the package is expected to be split into smaller tranches pending approval at the December G20 summit.
Local observers, including Taichung salesman Kimi Chi and former air‑force officer Eric Chan, applauded the arrival but warned that pilot training and logistics remain critical gaps.
Taiwan now awaits the U.S. decision on the $14 billion package, with officials hoping the split approval will come before the G20 meeting, after which the remaining F‑16Vs should be delivered by year‑end.