Lockheed Martin has officially launched the Finnish Defence Force’s first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet at its Fort Worth, Texas facility, marking a key step in Finland’s transition to fifth-generation air combat capabilities. The rollout is part of a 2021 foreign military sale agreement with the United States for up to 64 aircraft, valued at nearly $10 billion. Following final assembly, the first eight aircraft will initially be stationed in the US for Finnish pilot and maintainer training before delivery to Finland. Once operational, the jets will be based at Rovaniemi’s Lapland Air Wing and Siilinjärvi’s Karelia Air Wing. Lockheed Martin emphasized that Finland’s F-35 fleet will become Europe’s largest, supported by a global supply chain of more than 1,900 companies, including 30 Finnish firms. The aircraft will significantly enhance Finland’s deterrence posture, interoperability with NATO allies, and ability to operate in contested air environments.
