TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first two F-16V Block 70 jets Taiwan purchased from the US are expected to arrive around Oct. 10.

A military source told Liberty Times that the first aircraft rolled off the production line in March, with subsequent jets produced at a rate of three per month. Engine defects reported earlier have since been resolved.

The order totals NT$247.23 billion (US$7.65 billion) for 66 aircraft. The procurement phase runs from 2020 to 2026

In June, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan (李慶然) told lawmakers that all deliveries would be completed by 2026. He said delivery of more than 10 jets this year would be “optimistic but achievable.”

The first two jets will be ferried by US pilots and require over 10 rounds of aerial refueling before reaching Taiwan. After arrival, the aircraft must undergo testing before formal transfer of ownership.

The Air Force has not confirmed the timing of the arrival. Officials only said the first batch would arrive in the fourth quarter but withheld an exact date.

To maximize the jets’ combat effectiveness, the Air Force has budgeted an additional NT$42.83 billion from 2022 to 2030 for support pods, missiles, and munitions. The types and quantities of these systems remain classified.