TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force 7th Wing will send seed instructor pilots to the US for F-16V training in 2026, Air Force Colonel Bai Ke-wei (白克偉), commander of the Wing’s 44th Squadron, said on Tuesday.
In preparation for receiving its F-16Vs, the wing will select pilots with strong flying and language skills to undergo a 4–6-month training program in the first quarter of 2026, Bai said. They will begin type-conversion training for all pilots and fully integrate the new F-16s upon their return, CNA reported.
Taiwan expects to receive all 66 F-16Vs it ordered from the US by the end of 2026. F-16Vs from the 4th and 5th Wings are loaned to the 7th Wing until then. Bai said that the new fighter jets will significantly enhance Taiwan's air defense capabilities and ensure the security of the southeastern airspace.
The 44th and 45th Squadrons were established in the past few years and the 46th Squadron will be formed next year, Bai said.
The 7th Wing was officially transformed from a flight training wing to a tactical fighter wing in December 2023 and tasked with combat readiness duties at Chihang Air Base in Taitung. In October, the 44th Squadron dispatched aircraft to respond to China’s "Joint Sword-2024B" exercises around Taiwan, Bai said.