Defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) says that the delivery of 66 F-16 fighter jets is on schedule, despite some delays with the first two prototype units. Chiu made the comments on Thursday after several media outlets reported on delays in the delivery of two F-16 Block 70 units scheduled for this year. According to those reports, the United States Air Force issued a statement saying that the delays are due to “complex developmental challenges.”
Chiu told legislators at a Foreign and National Defense Committee hearing that there’s a backlog of defense contract deliveries due to increased global demand. He adds that the reported delays are due to software issues which contribute to the extra time required in producing the newest Block 70 fighters.
But Chiu also reassured the committee that all 66 units will be delivered in 2026 as scheduled. According to the defense ministry, the Pentagon has established a special unit to oversee the F-16V manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s production.