TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The U.S. has approved a US＄619M arms sale to Taiwan with munitions and equipment for F-16 fighter jets. With the delivery of the remaining 66 F-16 fighter jets scheduled for 2026, concerns have been raised regarding the shortage of pilots.
The Washington Post warns that "Taiwan needs more Top Guns," in their article, saying that by 2026 there will be more than 200 fourth-generation fighter jets, with only 105 F-16 pilots.
Pilots and jets in the airforce are disproportionately distributed. F-16 pilots only make up 20 percent of all pilots in the airforce, while F-16 jets make up 40 percent of all fighter jets.
And from 2011 to 2019, the air force only added 21 new F-16 pilots, according to the Ministry of National Defence.
Retired F-16 pilot Huang Yang-te pointed out that it takes four years for the entire training period.
With PLA aircraft constantly entering Taiwan's air defense zone, the training is also affected, Former Air Force Deputy Commander Chang Yen-ting said.