Taiwan F-16A/V Fleet Update

A Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) F-16A/V (airframe 6700, upgraded under the Peace Phoenix program) crashed into the sea off Hualien during a night training sortie on 6 January 2026. The flight computer recorded an automated ejection warning — 'EJECT, EJECT, EJECT' — but authorities could not confirm whether the pilot had actually ejected, as the ejection-seat locator beacon could not be detected. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, involving C-130 and UH-60 Black Hawk aircraft alongside Coast Guard vessels and civilian ships, but were severely hampered by ocean swells of up to three metres, gale-force winds, and cold water temperatures. President Lai Ching-te ordered a full-scale SAR operation. The pilot remained missing as of the latest reporting. Taiwan's entire fleet of approximately 150 F-16s — all upgraded to the A/V Block 70 standard — was grounded pending investigation into the cause of the crash.