Taiwan's first F-16V Block 70 jets depart US for delivery to Taiwan
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The first two of Taiwan's 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets departed the United States on Aug. 17, 2026, for delivery to Taiwan. The aircraft, serial numbers 6727 and 6728, are on a trans-Pacific journey that includes in-flight refueling and a maintenance stop.
Key Facts
- Taiwan's 66-jet F-16V Block 70 purchase cost NT 247.2 billion (US $7.74 billion) between 2020 and 2026 under the Peace Phoenix Soaring project.
- Lockheed Martin ran two production shifts with factories operating up to 20 hours a day to accelerate output.
- All 140 of Taiwan's existing F-16A/B Block 20 jets were upgraded to the F-16V configuration by Lockheed Martin and AIDC, with work completed in December 2023.
- In 1997, Taiwan's first F-16A/B Block 20 delivery required 19 in-flight refuelings across a three-leg route from Fort Worth, Texas, to Chiayi Air Base in Taiwan.
- Slovakia and Bulgaria ordered F-16V jets in 2018 and 2019 but only began receiving deliveries in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Peace Phoenix Soaring Program
Taiwan ordered 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the United States under the Peace Phoenix Soaring project. The contract was signed in 2019, with initial delivery expected between 2023 and 2024. Delivery was delayed by the relocation and restart of the production line and by broader aerospace supply chain disruptions. The programme cost NT 247.2 billion (US $7.74 billion) between 2020 and 2026.
Production Line Delays
Lockheed Martin had to run two production shifts, with factories operating up to 20 hours a day to accelerate output. Taiwan's defense minister said in early 2026 that the manufacturer had resolved earlier bottlenecks in components and staffing. Taiwan's experience mirrors delays seen by other F-16V buyers. Slovakia and Bulgaria ordered jets in 2018 and 2019 but did not begin receiving deliveries until 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Upgrade Program and Delivery Flight
Under the separate Peace Phoenix Rising project, Lockheed Martin and Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. upgraded all 140 of Taiwan's existing F-16A/B Block 20 jets to the F-16V configuration. That work was completed in December 2023. In 1997, the original F-16A/B Block 20 delivery required 19 in-flight refuelings, roughly once per hour, across a three-leg journey from Fort Worth, Texas, to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, then Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, before reaching Chiayi Air Base in Taiwan. The new Block 70 jets are equipped with conformal fuel tanks that extend their range and have different technical specifications from the older Block 20 variant.
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Taiwan's first F-16V Block 70 jets depart US for delivery to Taiwan
