Second Batch of F-16V Blk 70 Jets Arrives in Taiwan
Taiwan's air force took delivery of three more new F-16V fighter jets, a modest but visible step in its ongoing military buildup against China.
- Three F-16V (Block 70) jets landed at the Chihhang air base in Taitung, the second batch under a program to buy 66 of the new jets from the US.
- The deal is worth roughly NT$247 billion, funded over a multi-year budget running through 2026.
- The first two jets arrived in October; deliveries are now ramping up as more aircraft roll off the line.
- A pilot's hand gesture after landing drew attention online, though the air force declined to say what unit or detail it referred to.
Outlook: More F-16V jets are expected to arrive in batches as Taiwan continues building out its fleet under the existing purchase program.