TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An F-16V Block 70 fighter jet ordered by Taiwan was seen in Texas on Wednesday carrying external stores, three external fuel tanks, and two conformal fuel tanks.
DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said on Monday that a two-seat variant was seen flying from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina, to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas, per Liberty Times. Photographer Mike Garcia said he saw the jet departing Fort Worth on Wednesday after a fuel stop.
Compared with Taiwan’s existing F-16V Block 20 fleet, the Block 70 offers improved range, engine performance, and radar-absorbent coatings, Liberty Times reported. It is expected to be deployed at Taitung’s Chihhang Air Base to counter Chinese military activity east of Taiwan.
Wang said the conformal fuel tanks add 1,703 liters of fuel, while three external tanks — two 1,400-liter wing tanks and one 1,135-liter centerline tank — bring total external fuel to 4,595 kilograms. Including 3,248 kg of internal fuel, the total fuel load reaches 7,844 kg.
With drag, weight, climb performance, reserve fuel, and routing considered, the jet’s estimated maximum range is about 2,200 nautical miles (4,100 km), enough to reach Guam or travel to Beijing and back, Wang said.
Experts said the aircraft is likely undergoing pre-delivery preparations ahead of its ferry flight to Taiwan, according to Liberty Times.
