Defense Minister Gu Lixiong: Not only will two new F-16 aircraft be delivered by the end of the year, but the electronic warfare system is being tested

Defense Minister Gu Lixiong accepted a joint interview with the media before attending the Legislative Yuan meeting today. (Photo by reporter Chen Zhicheng)

[Reporter Chen Zhicheng/Reporting from Taipei] my country has purchased 66 F-16C/D Block70 fighter jets from the United States. The first batch of two 6727 and 6728 aircraft are confirmed to fly back to Taitung this morning and land at the Air Force Zhihang Base. This is the first time in 29 years that the Air Force has welcomed a new F-16 aircraft to fly across the ocean. In the future, it will be affiliated to the Seventh Wing responsible for the air defense of Eastern Taiwan. Gu Lixiong said that the return of the two new aircraft to Taiwan is just the beginning, and "we will not only deliver two aircraft before the end of the year." Moreover, the electronic warfare system continues to undergo software and hardware testing, and the "counterweight block" is purely a rumor.

The Legislative Yuan held a meeting today (2nd) and invited Executive President Zhuo Rongtai to attend the general policy report for the new session and prepare questions; Defense Minister Gu Lixiong accepted a joint interview with the media before the meeting. The Air Force confirmed yesterday (1) that my country has purchased 66 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft from the United States. The first two aircraft, No. 6727 and 6728, will fly back to Taitung this morning. In the future, the new aircraft will also belong to the Air Force Seventh Wing at Zhihang Base and serve as the core of East Taiwan's air defense.

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The media is paying attention to the subsequent delivery of new aircraft and asking whether the remaining 64 new aircraft can be delivered before the next year (2028)? Defense Minister Gu Lixiong responded that "only two aircraft will be delivered before the end of this year," and subsequent new aircraft will be assembled on the production line. Therefore, the delivery schedule will be coordinated with the US project office. As for strategic deployment, Gu emphasized that the eastern region is of course an important "combat power preservation" stronghold, but further relevant details cannot be disclosed.

It is rumored that the electronic warfare system of my country's newly purchased F-16 fighter jets has not yet been installed, and the interior of the aircraft is temporarily replaced by "counterweight blocks." Gu Lixiong refutes the "no counterweight blocks" as a wrong speculation by the outside world. Gu Lixiong revealed that this part has been systematically tested on software and hardware by relevant units, and it has to be confirmed that it matches the new configuration of the fighter aircraft. Relevant results should be available soon, emphasizing that "everything is now being carried out in accordance with the control nodes."