The Finnish Air Force has formally welcomed its first two F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, marking the start of in-country integration of a 64-platform order from US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.
Helsinki signed the deal for the package in 2022 at $9.4 billion to replace its aging F/A-18 Hornet fourth-generation fighter jets.
The planes, designated JF-510 and JF-512, arrived in Finnish airspace after a transatlantic ferry flight from Lockheed’s factory in Fort Worth, Texas.
‘Beginning of the Work’
During the reception, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb named the first aircraft “Sisu,” a local term for extraordinary perseverance, highlighting the system’s role in broader NATO deterrence.
“For us, the F-35 is about power projection, security and situational awareness in the Arctic region. It’s about securing northeastern Europe,” Stubb stated.
Meanwhile, Finnish Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Timo Herranen emphasized the strategic importance of the new stealth fighter for homefront defense.
“A fifth-generation aircraft that can see farther but not be seen, share information faster, strike accurately and survive longer is not a luxury here. It is a requirement,” Herranen said. “Arrival is just the beginning of the work.”
Operational Capability by 2030
The milestone follows the completion of Finland’s first domestically built F135 engine for its upcoming F-35.
Currently, eight additional Finnish Air Force F-35s remain at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot and sustainment training.
The Nordic country expects the platforms to achieve initial operational capability by early 2028, with full operational capability across the military planned through the end of the decade.