Taiwan Won’t Get US F-16s Until 2024 Thanks to Problems Beyond Covid

Delivery is ‘complicated by complex developmental challenges’
Pentagon and State officials met with Lockheed on the delay

The first flight of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70 in Greenville, South Carolina.Source: Lockheed Martin

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By Anthony Capaccio

May 23, 2023 at 11:01 PM UTC

Updated on

May 24, 2023 at 1:01 PM UTC

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Delivery of Taiwan’s first new F-16 fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp. has been delayed by problems deeper than the Covid-related supply chain issues cited previously, according to the US Air Force.

“Complex developmental challenges” have been encountered, and the US government, Taiwan and Lockheed “are actively working to mitigate these delays,” according to an Air Force statement flagging the previously undisclosed technical issue without elaboration. “We are committed to do everything we can to find solutions to deliver these aircraft, fully capable, to our partners as soon as possible.”