The Taiwanese Military of National Defence has thanked the US for the delivery of the first long-awaited F-16.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei and Representative to the US Alexander Yui on Friday attended a delivery ceremony for the first of Taiwan’s long-awaited 66 F-16C/D Block 70 jets at a Lockheed Martin Corp factory in Greenville, South Carolina, reported Taipei Times.

US representative William Timmons wrote on X: "It was an honor to speak today at Lockheed Martin in Greenville for the F-16 Taiwan Delivery Ceremony."

He said: "We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan’s air defense capabilities."

The F-16C/D Block 70 jets Taiwan ordered have the same capabilities as aircraft that had been upgraded to F-16Vs, reported Taipei Times.

The 7th Tactical Fighter Wing, a new air force unit to defend Taiwan proper’s eastern region, will use the batch of Lockheed Martin fighter jets.

President William Lai said in January while inspecting the unit that two out of its three tactical groups had been staffed and were waiting for delivery of the jets.

The F-16C/D Block 70 is expected to be the final model of Lockheed Martin F-16s, as the US Air Force and US allies replace their legacy aircraft with F-35 stealth fighters, the news portal reported.