APPROACHING NEW DEPTHS: Taiwan would likely acquire two components vital to building the nation’s first indigenous submarine next month, a research group said

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 05, 20202
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Eighteen of Taiwan’s F-16A/B jets have been upgraded this year under a joint Taiwan-US program to help the nation boost its air defense capabilities, the military said on Thursday.

The upgraded F-16s are among 141 jets Taiwan asked the US to help modernize in 2011 under a NT$110 billion (US$3.86 billion) joint venture between Aerospace Industrial Development Corp and Lockheed Martin, the military said.

With 123 aircraft still to be modernized, the companies are seeking to accelerate the pace of the project, which has lagged behind schedule, in the hope of completing the upgrades by 2023, it said.

Delivery of 66 new F-16V Block 70 jets that the air force purchased from the US in a deal last year is to be completed by 2026, after which the aircraft would be deployed at Taitung County’s Chihhang Air Base, it added.    [FULL  STORY]