Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) Taiwan’s state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) and U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. are to sign a strategic partnership agreement Tuesday to promote the establishment of an F-16 fighter jet maintenance center in Taiwan, according to AIDC.
Taiwan is in the process of procuring 66 F-16 C/D Block 70 fighter jets, known as the F-16Vs, from the United States, which, in addition to a NT$110 billion program to have the Air Force’s existing fleet of 142 F-16 A/B fighters upgraded to the same specifications as the F-16V, is expected to bring the country’s F-16 fleet to over 200, which will make Taiwan the largest F-16 user in the Asia- Pacific.
AIDC is therefore seeking to collaborate with the U.S. defense contractor to build a regional F-16 maintenance repair and overhaul center in Taiwan, AIDC said.
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