Taiwan’s U.S. Fighter Training Program Extended

TAIPEI — Taiwan will continue its F-16 flight training program at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

The announcement by the U.S. Defense Department that L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace was awarded the renewal of the $8 million annual contract for aircraft flightline maintenance for Taiwan’s F-16A/B Block 20 fighter aircraft was made on March 1. The annual contract renewal will end Feb. 28, 2014.

Taiwan has had one squadron, the 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron (Gamblers), based at Luke since it procured the F-16s in 1996. The contracting activity was handled by Air Education and Training Command Contracting Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.