Taiwan's MND says F-16V deliveries cannot meet year-end deadline, mulls special law amendment

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) procured 66 F-16V (blk70) fighters from the United States under the New Fighter Procurement Special Act, originally scheduled for full delivery before the act expires at year-end. Due to production line constraints, the deliveries cannot be completed on time. The MND stated on August 20 that unused budget will be reported to the Executive Yuan for reservation, and whether to amend the act to extend the deadline is currently under study to ensure the military's maximum interests.

Maj. Gen. Kao Chih-hsiung, director of the Finance and Information Division of the Resource Planning Office, explained at an afternoon press conference that the New Fighter Procurement Special Act was signed by the MND and the US military in 2019, constituting a contractual obligation of incurred debt. If payment cannot be made this year, the budget will be reported to the Executive Yuan for reservation in accordance with the Budget Act and relevant executive guidelines.

The air force, under the programme codenamed Feng Hsiang, allocated NT$247.22883 billion in sustained budgets from 2020 to 2026 to procure 66 new F-16V (blk70) fighters. Under the special act's timeline, all deliveries must be completed before year-end (2026), but production line constraints and other factors mean the target cannot be met this year, drawing public attention to whether the act will be amended to extend the deadline.

A separate programme, codenamed Feng Jan, upgraded 140 F-16A/B fighters to F-16V (blk20) configuration by Lockheed Martin and Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), and was fully completed in December 2023.

Regarding whether F-16V (blk70) fighters will fly back to Taiwan in the near term, MND deputy spokesperson Maj. Gen. Chiao Fu-chun stated only that the air force is pushing forward with receiving preparations according to plan, controlling the return flight at planned milestones, with specific timing remaining classified.

AVWIRE records show that the first two F-16V (blk70) fighters departed the United States on August 17 US Eastern Time and are expected to arrive in Taiwan in the near term, with aerial refuelling and stopovers planned en route. The new fighters were originally planned to all return to Taiwan this year but were delayed by production line relocation and supply chain disruptions, with the US side adopting a two-shift schedule to expedite work.