Lockheed Martin has announced it is working to accelerate the delivery of new F-16V fighters to Taiwan, following the island’s defence ministry reporting that the programme has been delayed due to supply-chain disruptions.
Taiwan, which faces increasing military pressure from China, has raised concerns about repeated postponements of U.S. arms deliveries.
According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, the shipment of all 66 F-16V jets — originally scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2026 — has been pushed back thanks to production-line relocations and other setbacks.
Lockheed said in a statement that it remains committed to delivering “mission-critical capabilities” for Taiwan’s air defences. The commitment covers both the 66 new F-16Vs and Taiwan’s upgrade programme for existing F-16s, which was completed in December 2023.
The company added that it is working closely with the U.S. government to shorten delivery timelines where feasible, while ensuring that the product meets safety and compliance standards. (Reuters)