The first batch of F-16V BLK70 fighter jets from the Chinese military returns to Taiwan, and the Ministry of National Defense plans to send personnel to the United States to attend a project management meeting

The first batch of F-16V BLK70 fighter jets from the Chinese military recently returned to Taiwan. (File photo)

[Reporter Tu Jumin/Reporting from Taipei] my country has purchased 66 new F-16V BLK70 fighter jets from the United States. The first batch of two aircraft, numbered 6727 and 6728, recently arrived at Taitung Zhihang Base. In order to closely monitor the progress of subsequent fighter-related combat support equipment and weapons and ammunition procurement, the Ministry of National Defense's budget for next year shows that the Air Force plans to send personnel to the United States for the first time next year to participate in the "F-16V (BLK70) Combat Support Equipment and Weapons and Ammunition Procurement Project Management Conference" to review the project progress and important milestones item by item to ensure that the equipment delivery and integration progress can be carried out as scheduled and with quality.

The Air Force's first batch of two F-16V BLK70s flew to Taiwan on the 2nd of this month and landed at Taitung Zhihang Base. They were subsequently handed over by Taiwan and the United States. This is also the second time the Air Force has received newly manufactured F-16 fighters after nearly 30 years. The Air Force stated that the remaining airframes are still being produced and tested in the United States, and will be installed and trained as planned to gradually form combat capabilities.

According to the information disclosed in the budget document of the Ministry of National Defense next year, the Air Force plans to send two people to the United States for six days next year to participate in the "F-16V (BLK70) aircraft combat support equipment and weapons and ammunition procurement project management meeting." The main tasks are to "review the project implementation progress, confirm that the milestones of the entire project are completed on schedule and with quality, and coordinate and control key operational items." The total overseas funding is 313,000 yuan. It is worth noting that there has not been the same overseas plan in recent years, indicating that with the delivery of the first batch of new aircraft, follow-up project management and equipment acquisition work in Taiwan and the United States will also further heat up.

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The F-16V BLK70 not only delivers the fighter aircraft itself, but also involves the integration of avionics, electronic warfare, logistics support and various weapons to form subsequent combat capabilities. Among them, the newly built F-16V The BLK70 uses the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 "Viper Shield" fully digital electronic warfare system developed by L3Harris, which can detect, identify and counter electronic threats, and is integrated with the AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar. There is also an AN/ALQ-254(V)2 pod version, which can be used by existing performance-enhanced F-16Vs, further integrating the electronic warfare protection capabilities of the new and old fleets.

As for weapons, my country's current F-16V can already use AIM-120 outside visual range air-to-air missiles, AIM-9 series short-range missiles, AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and JDAM precision ammunition. As the F-16V BLK70s return to Taiwan one after another, how to ensure that fighter aircraft, electronic warfare equipment, weapons and ammunition, and logistical support are synchronized will also become an important issue in subsequent project management.