United States Rejects Taiwan's Request for 66 F-16C/D Fighter Jets

United States has once again rejected the Taiwan's request to sell additional F-16s. United States State Department has blocked the latest petition by the Taiwan to submit a letter of request (LoR) for 66 F-16C/D Block 50/52+  fighter aircrafts.

United States had earlier blocked three such attempts by the Taiwan for the purchase of 66 F-16C/D Block 50/52+ and upgrade of the 146 F-16A/B Block 20 fighters aircraft.

If approved the deal to sell new 66 F-16C/D Block 50/52+ could be worth $8.7 billion and will generate around 16000 jobs in the United States. Current orders for the F-16 will keep the F-16 production line open till the end of 2013. 

China is already way ahead of the Taiwan with its J-20 first fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, J-11B, J-15 and J-10 fighter jets.