Pentagon Inks Deal to Maintain Taiwan’s Aging F-16 Aircraft

The Pentagon has awarded a maintenance contract for Taiwan's aging fleet of US-built F-16 Fighting Falcons, which first entered service over 30 years ago.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US contractor URS Federal Services won a $65 million contract to carry out maintenance work on the Taiwanese Air Force’s aging fleet of US-built F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Department of Defense said in a press release.

"URS Federal Services [of] Germantown, Maryland has been awarded a $65 million… contract for F-16 aircraft maintenance for the Taiwan Air Force," the release stated on Monday. "This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to Taiwan."

Taiwan operates a fleet of 143 US —built and supplied F-16As that are currently being upgraded to the F-16V. The aircraft first entered operational service with the US Air Force in 1978.

Earlier in April, the US Air Force announced plans to extend the service life of the F-16 fighter jet from 8,000 hours to 12,000 hours, effectively keeping the aircraft in the air for decades to come.