Taiwan parliament approves funding for acquisition of new F-16 Viper fighter aircraft

The Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 70/72 Viper. Photo c/o Lockheed Martin.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) government has approved the special funding to allow the procurement of up to 66 F-16C/D Block 70/72 Viper fighter aircraft from American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen confirmed that the Legislative Yuan has approved the funding worth NT$246.7 billion, which is a confirmation of multi-partisan effort and collective will to defend the country’s sovereignty and liberty. The funding will stretch until 31 December 2026.

The US State Department already issued its own clearance to allow Taiwan to purchase the F-16 Viper in August 2019, which is expected to cost around US$8 billion for the aircraft as well as related equipment, munitions and weapons, training, support, and others related services.

The deal also includes technology of some specific key technology to Taiwan, including setting up an F-16 maintenance center to allow regional servicing of local and foreign F-16 fleets. 

Taiwan expects that deliveries will be made by Lockheed Martin between 2023 and 2026. 

This will allow the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) to replace its ageing fleet of Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II light combat aircraft which the service have started to retire from frontline service.

The acquisition is in addition to the ongoing Phoenix Rising programme of the ROCAF involving the upgrade of 142 older F-16A/B Block 20 Fighting Falcon fighters to the F-16 Viper standard, which is being done locally and is slated to be done by 2022.

The F-16 Block 70/72 Viper is equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar, new mission computer from Raytheon, Tactical Data Link 16, enhanced electronic warfare (EW) system, improved cockpit displays, and ground collision avoidance system.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] South China Morning Post