Defense manufacturer Patria has signed a service agreement to develop the capabilities for Finland’s F-35 program.
The contract lists the company’s maintenance reliability and technology development as some of the prime services required for the combat fleet.
Patria is also expected to collaborate with the country’s industrial sector, with plans to build a large-scale assembly of F-35 fuselages, engines, and other structural components.
Work for the agreement will run until 2031, with its direct employment impact estimated at 600 person-years.
Preparing for Service
Patria F-35 chief program officer Petri Hepola said the move is a step forward in ensuring the fighter jets’ preparedness.
“With this agreement, the Finnish Defence Forces will receive a national solution for F-35 maintenance and service capabilities, which are significant for Finland’s security of supply,” he added.
The manufacturer has also signed a contract with the Finnish Ministry of Defence and F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin to ensure the industrial participation needed to keep the production of the jets running.
Overhauling the Fleet
Finland’s F-35 program began in 2021 when it ordered 64 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.
The deal, worth 8.4 billion euros ($9.5 billion), is Finland’s biggest-ever arms deal.
The new fleet will replace the country’s aging planes, some of which have been in service since the 1980s.