In a ceremony held at Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, leaders from the United States and Finland marked the rollout of Finland’s first F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The event signals the beginning of a new phase for Finnish air defense and highlights growing trans-Atlantic cooperation.
"Finland is a NATO member and committed to act as a dependable defence provider in the northern flank," said Finland's Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen. "Finland is investing heavily in national industrial capabilities through industrial participation, we believe that our investment and highly capable defence industry can benefit the F-35 program not just locally but also at a more global level."
Major General Timo Herranen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force, stated: "In the Finnish operational environment, survivability, lethality and cooperation are imperative. The F-35 will deliver unmatched capability in all those areas, and it will bring a whole new level of capability for our defence. We are looking forward to the start of F-35 operations next year."
The F-35 has been selected by 20 allied nations—13 of them European—and is currently used by 16 military services worldwide. Its interoperability allows for greater integration between branches of Finland’s Defense Forces and with NATO allies.
Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, commented: "The F-35 continues to demonstrate its ability to deter threats and prevail in combat, and it will give the Finnish Air Force a decisive edge in protecting the nation and bolstering allied partnership in the Nordic region and beyond. The F-35 program underpins a powerful network of integrated deterrence, advancing allied cooperation, industrial strength and shared security."
Lockheed Martin has collaborated with over 30 companies and academic institutions across Finland as part of its network supporting more than 1,900 suppliers involved with the F-35 globally. This partnership aims to foster innovation within Finland’s aerospace sector through technology transfer.
The first Finnish F-35A will be delivered in early 2026 before moving to Ebbing Air Force Base in Arkansas for pilot training. Finland plans to acquire 64 F-35As—the largest fleet among northern European countries—with initial deliveries expected domestically next year.
Currently, there are over 1,270 operational F-35s worldwide that have accumulated more than one million flight hours across 50 bases globally. Ten countries operate these aircraft on their own soil as part of efforts to maintain air dominance amid evolving threats.
Lockheed Martin describes itself as a global defense technology company focused on delivering advanced solutions for national security needs.
