Lockheed Martin unveils first F-16V fighter for Taiwan

Taiwan's representative to the US Alexander Yui speaks during the launch ceremony of the first of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 fighter aircraft on order by Taiwan, at Greenville, South Carolina, on 28 March 2025. (US Representative (R-SC) William Timmons)

Lockheed Martin has unveiled the first of 66 F-16V Block 70 Fighting Falcon aircraft on order to Taiwanese officials in the United States.

During a ceremony conducted on 28 March at Lockheed Martin's F-16 factory at Greenville, South Carolina, the first F-16V, a two-seater variant, was handed over to Taiwanese officials.

Images published on social media by US Representative William Timmons, of South Carolina's fourth district, show that the aircraft had the serial number 6831 and carried Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) emblem.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told Janes on 1 April, that the company “reaffirmed its commitment to supporting US security co-operation objectives for Taiwan during a visit by Taiwan and American representatives to its F-16 production facility in Greenville ... marking progress on the F-16 Block 70 programme”.

Timmons' images also show that Taiwan's Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-hui and Taiwan's representative to the US Alexander Yui were present at the launch ceremony.

That the first batch of F-16Vs was being readied for handover to Taiwan was initially revealed by the Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung. On 16 January Wellington said the first F-16V was undergoing testing, following the completion of assembly. On 13 March he added that one of the vice defence ministers of the country was scheduled to visit the US to observe the “ceremonial launch” of the first F-16V aircraft on order, according to the state-ownedFocus Taiwan media organisation.