TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-ran (李慶然) confirmed on Tuesday that flight tests for F-16Vs produced in the US will begin in January.

During a session of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Lee said that Taiwan has been pushing for faster production and stronger communication with the US, Liberty Times reported. 

He said that 54 jets are being assembled and capacity is being increased. The Air Force expects 10 of them to be completed by the end of this year.

The defense ministry was originally scheduled to receive 66 F-16V jets by the end of next year, but delays have arisen due to supply chain and production line issues. The US has set up a special task force to oversee operations. 

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin personnel have moved to a two-shift schedule and are working 20-hour days to accelerate production, the defense ministry said. Once manufacturing is completed, the goal is to move quickly into testing and deliver the aircraft to Taiwan as soon as possible, the ministry added.

Taiwan requested to buy 66 F-16Vs from the US in 2019, and the sale was finalized the following year.