F-16V fighter jets ordered by Taiwan are undergoing ground tests in the United States, as Washington and the American contractor come under pressure to speed up deliveries following criticism of repeated delays.
Photos circulating online in recent days showed at least one Taiwan-bound F-16V Block 70 two-seat aircraft during taxi and systems checks at a US airfield, offering the clearest public indication yet that the long-delayed programme had entered a substantive testing phase.
Images of the jet bearing the tail number 6831 taxiing at Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina were first posted over the weekend by US-based aviation photography page Owen’s Aviation Photos. It was accompanied by the caption: “First sighting of the Taiwan F-16 Block 70”.
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Additional photos showed that, compared with factory roll-out images released in March, the aircraft had now been fitted with conformal fuel tanks – external tanks sitting along both sides of the upper fuselage.
The front-seat test pilot was seen wearing the new HGU-55/P flight helmet equipped with a Scorpion helmet-mounted display and cueing system.
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Taiwan showcases fighter jets as mainland China’s war games continue following Pelosi visit
Taiwan showcases fighter jets as mainland China’s war games continue following Pelosi visit
A long dorsal pod mounted along the aircraft’s spine was seen to house various electronic warfare and communications antennas – a feature unique to the two-seat variant – with internal space occupied by the dual cockpit systems.