The United States is putting in extra effort to accelerate the production of delayed F-16V fighter jets for Taiwan, the island’s defence ministry announced on Monday (Nov 3). However, it also confirmed that advanced US-made glide bombs are facing setbacks due to supply chain problems. Taiwan, which continues to face increasing military pressure from Beijing, has repeatedly raised concerns about delays in receiving US weapons — its main source of international military support.

In a report submitted to lawmakers, the defence ministry stated that delivery of all 66 F-16V jets, originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, has been postponed because of production line relocations and disruptions. To address this, manufacturers have switched to two extended shifts totaling 20 hours per day. Taiwan said it will closely monitor progress to ensure contracts are fulfilled.

Defence Minister Wellington Koo told parliament that both the US and Taiwan are working to resolve the issue, noting that 50 of the Lockheed Martin aircraft are already in production. Of these, 10 are expected to begin flight testing this year and be delivered in 2026. “We hope every possible effort will be made to accelerate deliveries,” Koo said.

The ministry also reported that the delivery of 24 MK-48 torpedoes and four dummy versions — worth T$5.46 billion (S$230.68 million) and initially scheduled for 2026 — has been delayed to between 2026 and 2028 because of similar production issues. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the torpedoes, and the Pentagon did not immediately comment. Additionally, the supply of Raytheon’s AGM-154C Joint Standoff glide bombs, valued at T$135.97 billion, has been pushed back from 2026 to 2027–2028 due to ongoing supply-chain challenges. Raytheon has also not responded to requests for comment.

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported progress in another area — the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), also made by Lockheed Martin. Deliveries are now ahead of schedule, with the remaining 18 out of 29 systems expected to arrive by late 2026, earlier than the initial 2027 timeline. Taiwan conducted its first test of the HIMARS rocket system, which has seen extensive use by Ukrainian forces against Russia and could serve as a critical tool for Taiwan in a potential conflict with China.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.