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Taiwan’s first wing of F-16Vs begins operations

21st November 2021 - 22:31 GMT | by Charles Au in Taipei

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The first squadron of F-16V fighters has formally entered service with the ROCAF. (Taiwan MND)

Taiwan has commissioned its first unit of upgraded F-16 fighters that were modernised under the Peace Phoenix Rising programme.

Taiwan commissioned its first batch of upgraded F-16V Block 20 fighters on 18 November. A ceremony for the 21st Tactical Fighter Group was held at Chiayi Air Base, where the Republic of China Air Force’s (ROCAF) first F-16 fighter wing was established in the 1990s.

On the day, officials were unwilling to reveal the number of F-16Vs handed over to the ROCAF so far. Vice Defence Minister Lt Gen Wang Hsin-lung earlier told legislative members that more than 60 F-16s have rolled out of the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) plant to date.

Taiwan is the first air force

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Charles Au

Charles was born in Malaysia, but educated in Taiwan. He is currently based in the …

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