Taiwan receives first F-16V fighter jets after delays

Two jets from an $8bn order for 66 aircraft landed in Taitung amid concerns over Chinese military pressure.

Daily Alba · 2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Illustrative image of a fighter jet on an airbase apron; not an F-16V. Illustrative image, not a photograph of the reported event.

The United States has delivered two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, part of an $8 billion order for 66 aircraft approved during President Trump’s first term, Al Jazeera reports.

Delays

The jets landed at Chihhang Air Base after months of delay, a week after Mr Trump met China’s President Xi Jinping. Defence Minister Wellington Koo said more would arrive by the end of the year.

Context

Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory. The US is bound by law to help Taiwan defend itself but has no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Source & attribution: This original report is based on Al Jazeera, published 2 October 2026. This is not independent on-the-ground reporting.

Taiwan receives first F-16V fighter jets after delays

Delays

Context

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