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Taiwan’s US arms pipeline slows amid F-16 delays and T-Dome
Taiwan is waiting for new fighter jets and other air-defence equipment from the United States.
The first two of 66 F-16 jets reached Hawaii but have not yet continued to Taiwan.
The exact reason for their latest delay is not publicly known.
Earlier delays were linked to factory changes, supply problems and production bottlenecks.
Taiwan is also waiting for a separate weapons package worth about $14 billion.
That package could help connect several air-defence systems into one stronger network called T-Dome.
Taiwan’s defence minister says talks with the United States are continuing.
He also says Taiwan has not been told that existing arms agreements or cooperation have changed.
Taiwan’s first two of 66 F-16 Block 70 jets remain in Hawaii after leaving the United States.
The F-16 programme has faced production-line relocation, pandemic supply-chain problems, supplier delays and assembly bottlenecks.
A proposed $14 billion US weapons package for Taiwan has remained on hold since Donald Trump’s May meeting with Xi Jinping.
The package could include PAC-3 MSE interceptors, nine NASAMS systems, IBCS and additional sensors for air-defence integration.
Taiwan says it remains in discussions with the United States and has received no notice that arms sales or cooperation have changed.
- Who
- Taiwan, the United States, Lockheed Martin, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- What
- Taiwan’s F-16 Block 70 deliveries have been delayed, while a proposed $14 billion US weapons package remains on hold.
- Where
- The first two aircraft remain at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii after arriving from the United States; the wider issue concerns Taiwan and US arms cooperation.
- When
- Taiwan ordered the aircraft in 2019; the package has been held since Trump’s May meeting with Xi, and the latest F-16 delay was discussed on Tuesday.
- Why
- The aircraft programme has faced production and supply delays, while the separate weapons package remains in abeyance; the precise reason for the latest aircraft delay has not been publicly established.
Taipei’s assurances
Delay and uncertainty concerns
Status of US arms cooperation
Taipei’s assurances
Taiwan says it remains in continuous discussions with the United States and has not been informed of changes to arms sales or cooperation.
Delay and uncertainty concerns
The proposed $14 billion package has remained on hold since Trump’s May meeting with Xi Jinping.
F-16 delivery readiness
Taipei’s assurances
Wellington Koo said production had reached a stage where delivery was possible and referred to compensation measures linked to the delay.
Delay and uncertainty concerns
The first two aircraft remain in Hawaii, and the precise reason they did not continue toward Taiwan has not been publicly established.
Impact on Taiwan’s military plans
Taipei’s assurances
The proposed package and T-Dome could connect multiple air-defence layers, including Patriots, NASAMS and Taiwan’s domestic systems.
Delay and uncertainty concerns
Taiwanese officials have warned that heavy manufacturer demand and limited production capacity can cause missed production slots and longer waits for later batches.
Key facts
- Aircraft order
- Taiwan ordered 66 F-16V aircraft from Lockheed Martin in 2019.
- Current aircraft location
- The first two jets, numbered 6727 and 6728, remain in Hawaii.
- Weapons package
- The proposed US package is valued at about $14 billion.
- Potential systems
- The package is expected to include PAC-3 MSE interceptors, nine NASAMS systems, IBCS and sensors.
- T-Dome purpose
- Taiwan plans to integrate multiple air-defence capabilities into a more connected network.
- Taiwan’s position
- Defence Minister Wellington Koo said Taiwan remains in discussions with the United States and has received no notice of changed arms-sales cooperation.
- Other proposed spending
- Taiwan’s cabinet proposed another $4.6 billion in defence spending in September, including anti-ballistic missiles and drones.
Quotes
Taiwan’s US ambassador to China
Taiwan’s ambassador to China, speaking to Fox News
“President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point.”
livemint.com
“As for arms sales, we are in continuous discussions with the Americans on this. We haven’t received any notice of any changes to sales or our cooperation.”
livemint.com
Sources
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