The $4.5 billion “Peace Phoenix Rising” program to upgrade 139 of Taiwan’s F-16s to the F-16V (Block 70-72) configuration is complete, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center announced Feb. 5. The next step in the boost of Taiwan’s air defenses is to deliver 66 new-build F-16s in a comparable configuration, expected within the next two to three years.

The upgrade gives Taiwan’s F-16s a capability equivalent or superior to those of most U.S. Air Force F-16s. The program is intended to help deter the People’s Republic of China from a military assault on Taiwan.

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