Finland’s First F-35A Combat Jet Rolls Out

Exactly one year after the first Finnish F-35A Lightning II entered production at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility, the aircraft—airframe JF-501—moved out of the final assembly line, as per an official announcement today.

The fighter will soon receive its final paint and Finnish Air Force markings, with a formal rollout ceremony scheduled for December 16.

While the aircraft nears completion, Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) personnel are undergoing training in the U.S. as Finland continues major infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the incoming fleet.

Finland signed for 64 F-35A jets to replace its current fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets, which have been in service since 1992. Deliveries are set to begin in the latter half of 2026, with the first eight aircraft sent to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for training purposes. Aircraft from JF-509 onwards will be delivered to Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, joining 11 Squadron. Karelia Air Wing’s Rissala Air Base will begin receiving its F-35s from 2028.

The Finnish Air Force began its first phase of maintainer and pilot training in September at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The training involves theoretical and simulator-based instruction before personnel move to Ebbing ANGB for practical training alongside Lockheed Martin’s maintenance teams.

Eglin AFB hosts the F-35 Academic Training Center, which trains personnel from Finland, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and Singapore. After six months, Finnish teams will transition to Ebbing ANGB to work on operational aircraft.

At home, the country’s Air Force and defense industry are expanding infrastructure and local capability for the F-35. Karelia Air Base is undergoing extensive modification to meet the safety requirements of the multinational F-35 program and national operational needs. The upgrades include new shelters, maintenance, and storage facilities, set for completion by 2027.

In October, Patria Group announced completion of its new engine assembly and maintenance facility in Linnavuori, built under a partnership with Pratt & Whitney. Patria will assemble F135 engines and components from 2025 to 2030, followed by full maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations from 2030.

The Finnish F-35As will feature the TR-3 (Technology Refresh 3) package, designed to support future Block 4 hardware upgrades. This includes enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, improved computing, and upgraded sensors and targeting systems.