Yimou and Idrees Lee by Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – U.S. officials are looking at ways to speed up delivery of Taiwan’s new F-16 fighter planes. The goal is to strengthen Taiwanese Air Force’s ability respond to the increasing threat posed by China’s military.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to say they are still working on a way to accelerate delivery of Block 70 F-16s. They were manufactured by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:), and is equipped with advanced capabilities. The delivery of the aircraft is currently planned for 2026.

Taiwan’s government has privately expressed its wish for a faster delivery to U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, a senior Taiwanese official said, as the self-ruled island’s air force scrambles jets to intercept increasingly aggressive Chinese military flights https://graphics.reuters.com/TAIWAN-CHINA/byvrjrmgnve.

Taiwan’s aircraft will experience more wear and tear from additional missions.

The Taiwanese official stated that it was all about risk assessment and identifying the potential risks. He was referring to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from mainland China. The F-16 is considered a highly maneuverable https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104505/f-16-fighting-falcon aircraft proven in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack.

Taiwan will soon have one of Asia’s largest F-16 fleets once it receives 66 F-16 C/D 70 aircraft. This was in accordance with an $8 billion agreement that Taiwan signed in 2019. The island would have more than 200 F-16s by the end of 2026, including its older variants.

According to experts, any decision to expedite the deliveries of new aircraft could be a result of Biden’s determination that Taiwan’s defence needs are more pressing than those of U.S. partners and allies.

Rupert Hammond Chambers, president of US-Taiwan Business Council (an organization encouraging trade and business relations between the countries), stated that “that’s an administration decision.” They’d have to make the decision that China’s threat is more significant than Iran’s or Russians threats.

According to Lockheed Martin, the Block 70 F-16 aircraft is the most recent configuration. It features new avionics and a more modern cockpit.

Abraham Denmark, an ex-high ranking Pentagon official, said that Beijing would see a move to speed up the delivery of aircraft.

Denmark now works as an analyst for the Washington-based Wilson Center thinktank.

DWARFED BY CHINA

The United States, despite not having formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan is its main international backer. China has reacted to this relationship by increasing its military and diplomatic pressures on the island it regards as its “sacred” territory.

Faced with Chinese pressure Taiwan’s President TsaiIng-wen prioritized modernizing Taiwan’s armed forces. These are well-armed, but outnumbered by China’s military.

Lockheed Martin did not comment on future requests to alter the production schedule. They referred questions to the U.S. government, Taiwan’s defence ministry.

U.S. State Department oversees military exports and declined to comment about any internal negotiations regarding possible changes in the delivery schedule.

Lockheed Martin has many customers on its F-16 production line, Greenville, South Carolina. This is in addition to Taiwan.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the U.S. has not requested Lockheed Martin to change the delivery timeframe for Taiwanese F-16 aircrafts.

Although it was not possible to predict when Taiwan might receive its new F-16s, the source said that they would consider this even if there were plans to expedite deliveries. Producing constraints would make it difficult to achieve such an effort, as long lead time for materials and manufacturing processes could delay Taiwan’s fighter-aerial configuration.

Taiwan’s Air Force declined to answer questions regarding potential accelerated deliveries, but said in a statement to Reuters that its major weapon acquisitions are carefully planned and in line with combat requirements.

A Pentagon spokesperson stated that the sale of F-16s by the U.S. to Taiwan was guided under U.S. Law and was “based upon an assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs (and the threat posed China),” according to a statement.

« WEARING YOUR OPPONENT»

Taiwan’s air force is under pressure from the missions to catch Chinese planes. Last year, there were three fatal accidents and several mishaps. According to U.S. and Taiwanese military analysts, this will lead to increased fuel costs and pilot fatigue over time. This could also impact the ability of Taiwan’s aircraft to fly if it continues.

A senior Taiwanese official stated that Taiwan had stopped intercepting all Chinese planes last March.

Taiwan’s air force suspended combat training of its whole F-16 fleet last week after a newly upgraded fighter jet crashed into the water. This was the latest in a string of incidents.

Derek Grossman (a senior defense analyst for the RAND Corporation) stated that “they” are “wearing out their opponent, without firing a single shot.”

The cost to Taiwan’s Air Force in 2020 was T$25.5 Billion ($905 Million).