Two F-16 fighters for Taiwan delayed in Hawaii, US
The first two F-16 Block 70 fighters purchased by Taiwan from the United States have been at the Pearl Harbor–Hickam base in Hawaii, US, for more than two weeks and have still not arrived in Taiwan. The aircraft were expected to arrive at Zhihang Air Base in Taitung County at the end of August, the South China Morning Post reports.
Preparations for departure
The single-seat F-16Cs with tail numbers 6727 and 6728 arrived in Hawaii from the continental United States on August 21. During the flight, they were supported by US Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft.
On Monday, the fighters were spotted preparing to depart from Pearl Harbor–Hickam base. According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft taxied toward the runway but later returned to the parking area. Another aborted attempt to leave Hawaii had also been reported earlier.
After refueling and maintenance, the pair of F-16s was to continue to Guam and then to Taiwan. Neither the US side nor Taiwan's Air Force has publicly explained the reason for the delay or named a new arrival date.
Possible reasons for the delay
Local media, citing military sources, wrote of “minor problems” that required adjustments in Hawaii. Adverse weather along the trans-Pacific route and near Taiwan was also cited among the possible factors. None of these explanations has been officially confirmed.
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A Taiwan Air Force representative said that the delivery schedule depends on notification from the US side. Ferrying the fighters across the Pacific requires coordination of weather conditions, aerial refueling, maintenance and intermediate landings.
Delays in the delivery program
The United States approved the sale to Taiwan of 66 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft in 2019, worth more than NT$247.2 billion, or US$7.6 billion. The order includes 56 single-seat F-16Cs and 10 two-seat F-16Ds, which will be based primarily at Zhihang.
Deliveries were planned to begin in 2023, with all aircraft to be transferred by the end of this year. The program was delayed by the relocation of the production line, supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, software problems and flight testing.
Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo previously said that Lockheed Martin is producing 46 single-seat and 10 two-seat fighters for Taiwan, without specifying the status of the remaining 10 aircraft. He later acknowledged that the original deadline for fulfilling the order could not be met.
The new aircraft are intended to complement 139 Taiwanese F-16A/B Block 20s upgraded to the F-16V standard. After receiving all 66 new fighters, Taiwan will have more than 200 F-16s.
