Lockheed to Support Taiwan’s F-16 Jets

Lockheed Martin has won a contract worth $53.2 million to support Taiwan’s fleet of F-16 combat aircraft.

The deal covers provision of miscellaneous support for 50 retrofit aircraft to the Taiwan F-16 Peace Phoenix Rising program.  This modification provides for contractor over and above support and acquisition of legacy aircraft hardware and equipment, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement today.

Work is expected to be completed December 31, 2023.

The company was awarded $53.2 million to support the jets earlier this month.

Under the Phoenix Rising program, Taipei is upgrading its fleet of 144 F-16 A/B Block 20 Fighting Falcon jets to the F-16V configuration. The Air Force received its first modernized jet in 2018. The project is expected to be completed by 2023.

As part of the upgrade, the jets will be installed with Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar, new mission computers, and more advanced avionics and electronic warfare suite. The upgraded jet will also have the capability to be armed with new precision-guided weapons. The total cost of the program is estimated to be around $5.3 billion.

The U.S. State Department approved the FMS sale of 66 F-16C/D Block 70 fighters, along with related equipment and support, to Taiwan for an estimated cost of $8 billion.