Reuters: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TAIPEI, May 4 – Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday that the delivery of 66 advanced new F-16Vs from the United States has been delayed due to supply chain disruptions and the ministry was working to minimise the damage and “make up deficiencies”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States in 2019 approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N)<\/a> F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island’s F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, the largest in Asia, to strengthen its defences in the face of a stepped up threat from China, which claims Taiwan as its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taiwan has been converting 141 F-16A\/B jets into the F-16V type and has in addition ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have new avionics, weapons and radar systems to better face down the Chinese air force, including its J-20 stealth fighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of the new F-16Vs was meant to be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year but that has been delayed to the third quarter of next year due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking to reporters at parliament, Chiu said Taiwan had asked the United States to “make up the deficiency”, including prioritising spare part deliveries for the existing fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Multiple channels are being used, and we are minimising the damage from this,” he said, adding they still expected to get the full order delivered before 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ministry is using diplomatic channels, such as via the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, to resolve the problem, Chiu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neither the de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan, nor Lockheed Martin immediately responded to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taiwan has since last year complained<\/a> of delays to U.S. weapons deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers turn supplies to Ukraine as it battles invading Russian forces, and the issue has concerned U.S. lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n