Taiwan says software problems delaying new F-16 deliveries By Reuters

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: 12 F-16V fighter jets carry out an elephant stroll throughout an annual New 12 months’s drill in Chiayi, Taiwan, January 5, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Software program issues are delaying the supply to Taiwan of 66 superior new F-16V fighter jets from the USA however the island nonetheless expects the complete order to reach by 2026, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng stated on Thursday.

The USA in 2019 permitted an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:) F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that may take the island’s F-16 fleet to greater than 200 jets, the most important in Asia, to strengthen its defences within the face of a stepped up menace from China, which claims Taiwan as its personal.

Chiu earlier this month stated the 66 F-16Vs had been delayed resulting from provide chain disruptions, however on Thursday additional defined the issue was linked to flight management software program points they usually had been working to handle this with the USA.

“In precept by 2026 the 66 plane will all arrive, there may be completely no downside with this,” he instructed reporters at parliament.

In an announcement late on Wednesday his ministry stated the software program growth course of had been delayed, and that Lockheed Martin had already this 12 months rolled out two prototype F-16Vs, one in all which was from a separate order from Bahrain.

Lockheed Martin didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Chiu stated they had been involved in regards to the delay however that communication with the USA on the problem was “clean”.

Taiwan has been changing 141 F-16A/B jets into the F-16V kind and has as well as ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have superior avionics, weapons and radar programs to raised face down the Chinese language air power, together with its J-20 stealth fighter.

Taiwan has since final 12 months complained of delays to U.S. weapons deliveries, comparable to Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as producers flip provides to Ukraine because it battles invading Russian forces, and the problem has involved U.S. lawmakers.

Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. Home of Representatives International Affairs Committee, stated throughout a go to to Taipei final month that he was doing every thing attainable to hurry up arms deliveries.