Note:
(a) In 2011 the Obama administration notified sale of gear and weaponry mentioned in this report. See
News release: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, US Department of Defense, Sept 21, 2011 http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-s ... tes-retrofit-f-16ab
("The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of retrofitting of F-16A/B aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $5.3 billion. * * * [including] 128 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; 128 Night Vision Goggles; 140 AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missiles")
(b) F-16V in general:
(i) General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ge ... -16_Fighting_Falcon
(Manufacturer [first] General Dynamics, [then] Lockheed Martin Aeronautics [in 1993 General Dynamics, still extant, sold F-16 production to Lockheed Martin])
Quote: "At the 2012 Singapore Air Show Lockheed Martin unveiled plans for the new F-16V variant with the V suffix for its Viper nickname. It is to feature an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a new mission computer and electronic warfare suite, and various cockpit improvements; this package is an option on current production F-16s and can be retrofitted to most in service F-16s.
(ii) A viper is just an ordinary 毒蛇 -- not cobra or sidewinder, for example. see Viperidae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viperidae
(family)
Quote: "F-16V[:] The F-16V is the latest in F-16 evolution. Leveraging 40 years of experience, the F-16V includes enhancements such as an AESA Radar, advanced architecture, new center display and the latest in certified weaponry. This improves pilot situational awareness and provides customers increased operational capability. The F-16V is an option for new production jets and current fleet upgrades. The Taiwan government selected the F-16V configuration for its 145 Block 20 F-16 A/B aircraft."
(ii) F-16 Fighting Falcon. Lockheed Martin, undated. www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/f16.html
(iii) F-16V Takes Flight. Lockheed Martin, Oct 21, 2015. www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/p ... v-takes-flight.html
(d) F-16V in a news report:
Chris Pocock, Upgrade for Singapore's F-16 Fleet Goes Ahead. Aviation International News (AIN), Dec 2, 2015 http://www.ainonline.com/aviatio ... 16-fleet-goes-ahead
("Lockheed Martin announced in October [2015] that the first F-16 to be upgraded had just made its first flight [alluding to Taiwan's]. Taiwan is effectively the launch customer for what is now officially designated the F-16V, with Singapore now presumably following")
(e) Lockheed Martin's deceptive tactics to win the contact, for itself and for Taiwan.
Joseph Trevithick, That One Time Lockheed Hated on the Taiwanese Air Force; The company really loathed Taipei's warplanes, or at least pretended to. War Is Boring, Mar 7, 2015. https://warisboring.com/that-one ... -force-321bb2ac778e