F-35 fighters ordered by Finland are being transferred to a base in Lapland ahead of schedule

F-35 fighters ordered by Finland from the United States are being transferred to the Finnish Air Force base in Lapland ahead of schedule.

The commander of the Finnish Air Force, Timo Herranen, set the task of quickly introducing fighters into service.

Finland has agreed to purchase 64 F-35 fighter jets in 2021; the phased introduction of new machines into operation is planned for 2026–2030.

MOSCOW, September 16 - RIA Novosti. F-35 fighters ordered by Finland from the United States are being transferred to the Finnish Air Force base in Lapland ahead of schedule, reports Iltalehti.

Broadcaster Yle previously reported that the first fighter jets would arrive at the Finnish Air Force base in Rovaniemi by October.

"Foreign policy and security sources have confirmed to Iltalehti that the first air force F-35 fighter jets are arriving in Finland," the statement said.

Air Force Commander Timo Herranen told the publication that he had set the task of quickly bringing the fighters into service.

According to the publication, American pilots are flying the fighters. Finnish pilots who trained as instructors at Ebbing Air Force Base in Arkansas are returning to the air base in Lapland.

In 2021, Finland agreed to purchase 64 fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets produced by the American concern Lockheed Martin. The phased commissioning of new machines is planned for 2026-2030.