Washington: Lockheed Martin, the American defense giant, has confirmed that it is working closely with the United States government to speed up the delayed deliveries of advanced F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan. The company’s statement came after Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense disclosed that the shipment of 66 new jets seen as a crucial component of the island’s air defense modernization had been postponed due to production disruptions.

Taiwan inked a $8 billion agreement with Lockheed Martin in 2019 for the procurement of 66 state-of-the-art F-16V “Viper” fighter aircraft, the latest variant of the widely deployed multirole jet. Originally, all aircraft were scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2026. However, Lockheed’s internal restructuring, including the relocation of product

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