The Taiwanese Air Force’s plan to purchase new F-16C/D fighters may soon get examined by US officials, as part of an arms package that was originally put forward in 2001.

The long-standing request for 66 new F-16C/Ds worth $1.3bn would be examined by the US administration as the US is legally obligated to help Taiwan defend itself, flightglobal reports.

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Taiwan defence minister Chen Chao Min said that the US had not asked Taiwan to choose between upgrades to its existing F-16A/Bs and new F-16C/Ds and the requests for mid-life upgrades for the F-16A/Bs and the new fighters were proceeding simultaneously.

The Taiwan Government also hopes that the US would enable it to buy 60 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters by the end of 2009, flightglobal reports.

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