Lockheed Martin has officially unveiled the Finnish Defence Force’s first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet at its manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, marking a major milestone in Finland’s air force modernization program. The rollout follows the completion of final assembly in October, signaling steady progress in Helsinki’s transition to fifth-generation combat aviation.
The aircraft is part of Finland’s 2021 Foreign Military Sales agreement with the United States, which includes the acquisition of up to 64 F-35A stealth fighters valued at nearly $10 billion. Lockheed Martin previously confirmed that the first eight aircraft will be temporarily based in Arkansas, where Finnish Air Force pilots and maintenance crews will conduct training and operational familiarization.
After delivery to Finland, the new F-35A fleet will be assigned to Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi and Karelia Air Wing in Siilinjärvi, strengthening the nation’s air defense posture and regional deterrence capabilities. According to Lockheed Martin, Finland’s completed F-35 fleet will become the largest in Europe, enhancing interoperability with allied air forces.
The program is supported by a global industrial network of more than 1,900 suppliers, including 30 Finnish companies contributing to production and sustainment. The F-35 Lightning II is currently operated by 20 countries worldwide, with 13 European nations adopting the fifth-generation fighter as a core component of their future air combat forces.
