Taiwan Air Force F-16 aircrafts fly over Hualien, Taiwan April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang
TAIPEI (Reuters) -The United States is working overtime to speed up the production of delayed F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan, while advanced U.S.-made glide bombs have also been delayed due to supply-chain issues, the island's defence ministry said on Monday.
Taiwan, which faces a rising military threat from Beijing, has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the United States, the Chinese-claimed island's most important international backer and arms supplier.
In a report to lawmakers, Taiwan's defence ministry said the delivery of all 66 F-16V fighters, initially expected to arrive by the end of 2026, had been pushed back due to production line relocations and disruptions.
To mitigate the delay, contractors are working two shifts lasting 20 hours a day to speed up production, the ministry said, adding Taiwan would continue to monitor progress to ensure contractual obligations are met.
Lockheed Martin, which makes the jets, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ministry also reported delays in the delivery of another weapons system, Raytheon's AGM-154C Joint Standoff glide bombs, which cost T$135.97 billion ($4.44 billion).
They were initially meant to be delivered by the end of 2026, but are now expected to be delivered from 2027-2028 due to supply-chain problems, it added.
Raytheon also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"All military procurement cases are strictly controlled through various meetings between Taiwan and the United States. Payment schedules are adjusted based on production progress to avoid premature payments before equipment delivery," Taiwan's defence ministry said.
($1 = 30.5930 Taiwan dollars)
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
