Finland's first F-35A fighter jet completed its maiden flight and will arrive in Finland in the fall of 2026

Finland's first F-35A fighter jet completed its first flight in the United States on December 8, 2025, symbolizing the Finnish Air Force's launch of a new generation fighter aircraft replacement plan; the first batch of F-35A fighters is expected to arrive in Finland this fall. (Finnish Air Force X account)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] Finland is becoming the new F-35 logistics and industrial hub on NATO's northern flank. The local defense company Patria completed the assembly of Finland's first F135 fighter engine on the 3rd. Finland has purchased 64 F-35A fighters, and the first batch of new aircraft is expected to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in the north of the country this fall.

The US "Newsweek" reported that Patria completed the assembly of the first F135 engine at Nokia's Linnavuori plant in Finland, representing the local F-35 program entering the full-scale production stage. Patria reached an agreement with F135 manufacturer Pratt & Whitney in February this year, and related assembly work is expected to continue until 2030.

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Patria is not only responsible for F135 engine assembly, but will also perform maintenance, repair and overhaul in Finland in the future. The company stated that this capability will enhance the availability and resilience of Finland's F-35 fleet, and also allow Finland to become a link in the global F-35 sustainment combat energy network.

Finland has submitted a request to the U.S. Lockheed. Lockheed Martin purchased 64 F-35As to gradually replace the current F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets. The first batch of F-35As of the Finnish Air Force are scheduled to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in the fall of 2026, and will then gradually expand the new fleet.

Finland’s F-35 program is not limited to the purchase of aircraft. Patria is also responsible for assembling the F-35 forward fuselage in Finland and manufacturing structural components such as landing gear doors. After the F135 engine is assembled, the same Linnavori plant will be converted into engine maintenance and overhaul.

Not only buying F-35, but also keeping its engine maintenance capabilities in Finland

Patria said that the F135 capabilities currently established in Finland will support the entire service cycle of the country's F-35 fleet. The director of the F-35 program of the Finnish Defense Force pointed out that the technical capabilities established today will also support domestic engine maintenance and supply security in the future.

Finland shares about 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia and will join NATO in 2023. The report pointed out that as the first batch of F-35A is about to arrive, Finland is also establishing engine assembly and maintenance capabilities in the country, so that the use of F-35 on NATO's northern flank not only involves the fighter aircraft itself, but also extends to the logistics and industrial support system.