Taitung:Taipei The second batch of F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States arrived in Taiwan on Sunday, as confirmed by the Air Force.
According to Focus Taiwan, the three jets, identified by their numbers 6729, 6731, and 6732, touched down at Chihhang Air Base in Taitung County, southeastern Taiwan, around 11 a.m.
The Air Force Command Headquarters stated in a press release that it would continue with training to induct the new aircraft into service, aiming to gradually build up their initial operational capability. These jets left Lockheed Martin's factory in South Carolina earlier this month and reached Hawaii on November 4.
This delivery follows the arrival of the first batch of two F-16V Block 70 jets on October 2. The United States had approved the sale of a total of 66 F-16Vs and related equipment to Taiwan in 2019, with a deal valued at approximately US$8 billion. Originally, deliveries were set to start in 2023 and be completed by 2026, but technical delays have adjusted this timeline.
