In a significant milestone for Taiwan’s defense capabilities, Lockheed Martin handed over the first of 66 newly built F-16C/D Block 70 fighter jets to the Taiwanese government during a ceremony at its Greenville South Carolina facility.
Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70
Photo credit: Lockheed Martin
The event, attended by senior Taiwanese officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Bai Honghui and Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Yu Dawei, marked the beginning of a long-awaited delivery process stemming from a $8 billion deal finalized in 2019.
This aircraft, the most advanced variant of the storied F-16 platform, arrives as Taiwan seeks to bolster its air force amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with China.
Taiwan’s first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet was officially unveiled at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina facility.
The rollout ceremony saw attendance from Taiwanese Vice Defense Minister Po Hung-hui, Washington envoy Alexander Yui, and U.S. Representative William… pic.twitter.com/fmxGOooyLg
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 29, 2025
The handover underscores a deepening military partnership between the United States and Taiwan, a relationship that has drawn international attention given the geopolitical stakes involved.
The ceremony in Greenville was a carefully orchestrated affair, reflecting years of planning and production. Lockheed Martin, the aerospace giant responsible for the F-16 since its inception in the 1970s, showcased the jet as a symbol of technological prowess and international cooperation.
The Block 70 configuration, often referred to as the F-16V or Viper, incorporates cutting-edge upgrades over earlier models: an active electronically scanned array radar known as the AN/APG-83, advanced avionics, and enhanced weapon systems designed to counter modern threats.
For Taiwan, this delivery represents more than just an aircraft—it’s a strategic asset intended to maintain a balance of power in a region where air superiority is increasingly contested.
Taiwan’s decision to acquire these jets traces back to a formal request made to the U.S. government more than half a decade ago. The deal, approved under the Trump administration, came after years of debate in Washington over arms sales to the self-governing island, which China claims as its own territory.
The 66 new fighters complement an ongoing effort to upgrade Taiwan’s existing fleet of 141 F-16A/B jets to the Viper standard, a project that saw its first operational squadron unveiled in 2021 at Chiayi Air Base.
Speaking at that earlier event, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen described the modernization as a “crucial step” in safeguarding the island’s sovereignty. Now, with the arrival of the first Block 70, her administration’s vision of a revitalized air force is taking further shape.
It was an honor to speak today at Lockheed Martin in Greenville for the F-16 Taiwan Delivery Ceremony.
We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan’s air defense capabilities. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/pNsvnn81H5
— Congressman William Timmons (@RepTimmons) March 28, 2025
At the Greenville event, Bai Honghui emphasized the aircraft’s role in Taiwan’s defense strategy. “This jet represents not just an advancement in technology but a commitment to peace and stability,” he told attendees, according to a statement released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
His words carried a measured tone, reflecting Taipei’s delicate position: reliant on U.S. support yet wary of escalating tensions with Beijing. Lockheed Martin’s leadership echoed this sentiment, with a company spokesperson noting that the delivery “strengthens a decades-long partnership” between the U.S. defense industry and Taiwan’s military.
Neither side elaborated on the precise timeline for the jet’s journey to Taiwan, though officials confirmed that the remaining 65 aircraft are slated for delivery by the end of 2026.
The F-16 Block 70’s capabilities set it apart from its predecessors and even some rival platforms. The AN/APG-83 radar, derived from technology used in fifth-generation fighters like the F-35, offers improved target detection and resistance to jamming, a critical feature in an era of sophisticated electronic warfare.
The jet’s modular design also allows for future upgrades, ensuring it remains relevant as threats evolve. By comparison, China’s J-10C, a mainstay of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, boasts agility and domestically produced avionics but lacks the proven combat pedigree of the F-16, which has seen action in conflicts from the Balkans to the Middle East.
Analysts note that while China’s air force outnumbers Taiwan’s by a wide margin—over 1,900 combat aircraft to Taiwan’s roughly 400—the qualitative edge provided by Block 70 could narrow that gap in key scenarios.
This handover arrives at a pivotal moment. Over the past few years, China has intensified its military activities near Taiwan, conducting large-scale exercises and frequent incursions into the island’s air defense identification zone.
Data from Taiwan’s defense ministry shows that Chinese warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait—a de facto boundary—over 1,700 times in 2024 alone, a sharp increase from previous years.
In response, the U.S. has stepped up its support, with the Biden administration approving multiple arms packages beyond the F-16 deal, including missile systems and radar equipment. Critics in Beijing have decried these moves as provocative, with state media accusing Washington of “arming Taiwan to the teeth” and risking broader conflict.
For Lockheed Martin, the Taiwan contract is a cornerstone of its F-16 production line, which shifted to Greenville from Fort Worth, Texas, in recent years to accommodate growing international demand. The Block 70/72 variant has also attracted buyers like Bahrain, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, signaling a resurgence for a jet once thought to be nearing obsolescence as fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 took center stage.
The company has delivered over 4,600 F-16s worldwide since the aircraft’s first flight in 1974, a testament to its enduring appeal. In Greenville, the production facility is now a hub for this latest chapter, with hundreds of workers involved in assembling Taiwan’s order alongside other export contracts.
The historical context of the F-16’s relationship with Taiwan adds depth to this moment. The island received its first F-16s in 1997, a batch of 150 A/B models acquired under a deal that infuriated China and prompted threats of retaliation.
Those jets, while effective in their time, struggled to keep pace with advancements in Chinese air power, particularly as Beijing rolled out stealth fighters like the J-20. The push for modernization gained urgency in the 2010s, culminating in the dual-track approach of upgrading older aircraft and purchasing new ones.
Block 70, with its leap in capability, is seen by military planners as a way to deter aggression without matching China’s numerical advantage—a strategy rooted in agility and precision rather than sheer volume.
Beyond the technical and strategic implications, the handover carries political weight. In the U.S., support for Taiwan cuts across party lines, though the pace and scope of arms sales have sparked debate.
Some lawmakers argue that faster deliveries are needed to counter China’s rapid military buildup, while others caution against straining relations with Beijing over what they see as a secondary theater compared to challenges like Ukraine or the Middle East.
A congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the F-16 deal as “a signal to both Taiwan and China that the U.S. isn’t backing away.” In Taipei, the public response has been largely positive, with local media framing the jet’s arrival as a boost to national morale, though protests from pro-Beijing factions remain a reminder of the island’s divided politics.
Taiwan’s defense ministry has kept operational details under wraps, a standard practice given the sensitivity of military movements in the region. The first Block 70 will likely undergo additional testing and integration once it reaches Taiwanese soil, a process that could take weeks or months before it joins active squadrons.
Its home base remains unconfirmed, though Chiayi, Taichung, or Hualien—key nodes in Taiwan’s air defense network—are probable candidates. The ministry has also declined to specify how the jet will fit into broader war plans, though exercises simulating air-to-air combat and maritime defense are expected to feature prominently in its early deployment.
Looking ahead, the delivery schedule offers a glimpse into the partnership’s trajectory. With 65 more jets to come, Taiwan’s air force will gradually phase out older platforms like the Mirage 2000-5, a French-built fighter acquired in the 1990s that has reached the end of its service life.
The full complement of Block 70s, combined with the upgraded F-16Vs, will give Taiwan a fleet of over 200 modernized F-16s by decade’s end—a formidable force for an island of 23 million people. Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, stands to benefit from sustained production, with the Taiwan order providing a steady revenue stream as it navigates a competitive global market.
The Greenville ceremony, while a moment of celebration, also serves as a reminder of the stakes at play. For Taiwan, the F-16 Block 70 is a lifeline in an uncertain world, a tool to preserve its de facto independence against a neighbor that has not ruled out force to achieve unification.
For the U.S., it’s a commitment to an ally and a test of its resolve in a region where influence is fiercely contested. As the jet prepares to cross the Pacific, its journey marks not just a transfer of hardware but a chapter in a larger story—one that will unfold in the skies above the Taiwan Strait for years to come.
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