Taiwan receives its first US-made F-16V fighter jets

Taiwan received its first US-made F-16V fighter jets on Friday, with two Lockheed Martin-built aircraft landing at the air force base in Taitung on the island’s southeast coast. The delivery follows an $8 billion US-approved deal for 66 F-16Vs during Donald Trump’s first term, with arrivals scheduled for this year. The jets were expected earlier, after refueling stops in Hawaii and Guam, but several media reports said they turned back to Hawaii soon after departing for Guam, with no official explanation. The arrival comes as Taiwan awaits a separate $14 billion arms package that Trump paused after Chinese objections. Locals gathered near the base to photograph the jets. The F-16V is a fourth-generation multi-role upgrade over Taiwan’s aging F-16 A/B fleet.