Taiwan claims F-16 deliveries delayed, working to minimise hurt By Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng mentioned on Thursday that the delivery of 66 highly developed new F-16Vs from the United States has been delayed because of to supply chain disruptions and the ministry was doing the job to minimise the injury and “make up deficiencies”.

The United States in 2019 accepted an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a offer that would choose the island’s F-16 fleet to additional than 200 jets, the premier in Asia, to improve its defences in the deal with of a stepped up danger from China, which promises Taiwan as its very own.

Taiwan has been changing 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type and has in addition requested 66 new F-16Vs, which have new avionics, weapons and radar systems to better experience down the Chinese air drive, such as its J-20 stealth fighter.

The 1st of the new F-16Vs was meant to be sent in the fourth quarter of this yr but that has been delayed to the 3rd quarter of upcoming 12 months due to pandemic-associated source chain disruptions, the ministry explained.

Talking to reporters at parliament, Chiu claimed Taiwan experienced questioned the United States to “make up the deficiency”, such as prioritising spare part deliveries for the current fleet.

“A number of channels are remaining applied, and we are minimising the destruction from this,” he stated, adding they nevertheless predicted to get the total get shipped right before 2026.

The ministry is working with diplomatic channels, these kinds of as through the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, to resolve the challenge, Chiu mentioned.

The de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan, did not respond to a ask for for remark.

Lockheed Martin explained it has a lengthy-standing partnership with Taiwan, supporting its national protection, interoperability with the United States and ensuring regional protection. The enterprise claimed more questions regarding Taiwan international military revenue should really be directed to the U.S. authorities and the Taiwan Ministry of National Protection.

Taiwan has given that past yr complained of delays to U.S. weapons deliveries, this sort of as Stinger anti-plane missiles, as makers transform supplies to Ukraine as it battles invading Russian forces, and the concern has anxious U.S. lawmakers.

Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives International Affairs Committee, claimed through a visit to Taipei final thirty day period that he was doing all the things probable to pace up arms deliveries.