Taiwan received its first two new-built F-16V Block 70 fighters this week, the island’s first new combat jets in 29 years.

The jets, delivered to Zhihang Air Base in Taitung on Thursday, are the first of 66 Taiwan ordered from the United States in an approximately $8 billion deal under the Peace Phoenix Soaring programme.

The Block 70 is the most advanced F-16 variant. It carries the AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar, the Viper Shield electronic-warfare system, Link 16 data links, conformal fuel tanks for longer range, and an airframe rated for 12,000 flight hours.

Together with Taiwan’s 139 upgraded F-16Vs, the new jets will give the island a modernised force approaching 200 Viper-series aircraft, one of the largest F-16 fleets in the world.

Taiwan’s air force is under pressure from China’s expanding air and missile power. Analysts say the F-16Vs’ weapons, including AIM-120 air-to-air missiles and AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, give Taiwan flexible options across air defence and strike missions.