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Ready for the Fight
Taiwan’s Upgraded F-16Vs will be some of the most
sophisticated F-16s in the region
By our Special Correspondent the US$4.5 billion ‘Peace Phoenix phase of the upgrade programme
Rising’ programmeme, which began will add even more sophisticated
The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle in 2016 with the first upgraded jet equipment and features including,
Management Center recently being delivered in late 2018. All the an Automatic Ground Collision
announced the completion of the aircraft that have been upgraded Avoidance System (AGCAS),
first phase of an upgrade effort belong to Taiwan’s original order MS-110 reconnaissance pod,
for 139 Taiwanese F-16s to F-16V for 150 F-16A/B Block 20 aircraft AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation
(Block 70-72) standard, in what ordered in 1992. The ROCAF’s Missile (HARM) and AGM-154 Joint
will be a major boost to the combat upgraded F-16Vs are fitted with Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW).
capability of the Republic of China Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83
Air Force (ROCAF). The last Active Electronically-Scanned
upgraded F-16V was delivered to Array (AESA) radar, a Sniper Forever Fighter
the ROCAF in December 2023 and targeting pod, Link 16 datalink, a
the air arm had inducted the first helmet-mounted cuing system, pre- 2023 marks the 50th anniversary
squadron of the advanced fighter cision GPS navigation, addition of of the F-16 and Lockheed Martin’s
jets in November 2021. Taiwan has new and advanced weapons. The current order backlog for the F-16
also ordered 66 F-16Vs in a deal aircraft also feature an upgraded Block 70 stands at 135 jets and
worth US$8 billion and these are modular computer, a new center Bulgaria has signed a Letter of
slated to be delivered over the next cockpit pedestal display and heavy- Offer and Acceptance for an addi-
few years. The new F-16Vs will weight landing gear, which allows tional eight jets. The inaugural flight
have 12,000 hour service lives as for heavier take-off weights. Taiwan of the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70
compared to 8,000 hours for their will also receive Legion Infra-Red is planned for later this year.
predecessors. Search & Track (IRST) systems.
The F-16 Block 70/72 is the latest
The Taiwanese F-16V upgrade Peace Phoenix Rising version of the fighter and will be
flown by at least six nations..
effort is being undertaken under Modernisation II, the second
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