BETHESDA- Finland has welcomed its first 2 permanently based Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft at Rovaniemi, Finland (RVN), marking the start of a new era of fifth-generation airpower for the Finnish Defence Forces.
The Finnish Air Force hosted the arrival ceremony with senior Finnish government and military leaders, US and allied representatives, and industry partners.
The F-35A program will provide Finland with a connected combat capability focused on survivability, information sharing, precision strike and interoperability.
Eight additional Finnish aircraft remain temporarily at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot and maintainer training, with Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM) serving the nearby commercial aviation network.
Finland Begins F-35A Operations on Home Soil
The arrival of the first permanently based F-35A aircraft represents a major milestone in Finland’s effort to introduce fifth-generation combat capability into its air force.
Finland has ordered 64 F-35A aircraft, and the first 2 aircraft based in the country now provide the foundation for the fleet’s continued introduction into Finnish service.
The ceremony also highlighted Finland’s growing role in regional and collective security. Finnish, US and allied officials attended the event alongside representatives from the defense industry, reflecting the F-35 program’s broader connection to Nordic, European and NATO security cooperation.
The Finnish Air Force selected the F-35 for the demanding security environment in which Finland operates. Its design combines low-observable characteristics with advanced sensors, information sharing, precision strike capability and greater survivability.
Major General Timo Herranen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force, said the F-35 was selected because its fifth-generation capabilities match Finland’s operational requirements.
He emphasized the aircraft’s ability to detect threats at greater distances while reducing its own detectability, share information rapidly, strike accurately and increase the chances of aircraft and crews surviving demanding missions.
Herranen also stressed that these capabilities are not viewed as optional improvements for Finland. They are considered necessary to enable Finnish pilots to complete missions and remain ready for subsequent sorties in a difficult security environment.
F-35 Deliveries and Finnish Training
Finland has now received 10 of its 64 F-35A aircraft. While the first two aircraft are permanently based in Finland, eight aircraft are temporarily stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas.
Finnish pilots and maintenance personnel are using the US-based aircraft to build operational experience before the F-35 fleet expands further in Finland.
The training supports the transition from the country’s previous generation of combat aviation to a fifth-generation operating model.
The training phase covers not only flying but also maintenance and the wider support structure required to operate the F-35.
This approach allows Finnish personnel to develop the skills needed to manage the aircraft, sustain the fleet and support future operations from Finnish bases.
Why F-35 Matters to Finnish Defense
The F-35 is designed to collect information from multiple sensors, process that information and share it with other forces through secure networks.
This networked approach allows the aircraft to contribute to a broader operational picture rather than relying only on information collected by the individual aircraft.
For Finland, that capability is closely linked to national defense and deterrence. The aircraft is intended to strengthen the Finnish Defence Forces’ ability to protect national sovereignty, respond to threats and operate effectively alongside allied forces.
The F-35 also supports NATO interoperability. Common systems and connected operations allow participating air forces to cooperate more closely, strengthen shared deterrence and improve the ability of allied forces to operate together during complex missions.
As adversaries continue to advance their capabilities and legacy combat aircraft age, the F-35 is intended to help maintain air dominance and credible deterrence over the long term.
Lockheed Martin and Finland’s Industrial Role
Lockheed Martin leads the global F-35 program, which is supported by more than 2,100 suppliers across more than a dozen countries. Twenty allied nations have selected the F-35, including 13 European countries.
The international structure of the program has created a significant industrial role for European companies. Lockheed Martin states that 25% by value of every F-35 produced is manufactured in Europe, while all major F-35 components are now manufactured there.
Finland has an important position within that industrial network through Patria. Earlier in 2026, Patria became the first company other than Lockheed Martin to produce the F-35 forward fuselage. The development demonstrates Finland’s participation in the aircraft’s wider global production system rather than limiting its role to aircraft procurement and operation.
Lockheed Martin Highlights Finland’s Security Role
OJ Sanchez, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, described the arrival of Finland’s first F-35 as a milestone that extends beyond the introduction of a new aircraft.
Sanchez said the F-35 will strengthen Finland’s ability to deter aggression, defend its sovereignty and respond to an evolving security environment. He also emphasized Finland’s increasingly important position in Nordic, European and NATO security and Lockheed Martin’s role in supporting the country as it brings the capability into national service.
The comments reflect the broader strategic role assigned to the F-35 within Finland’s defense planning. The aircraft is expected to serve as a key element of Finnish airpower while remaining connected to a wider allied security network.
Finland Joins a Growing Global F-35 Fleet
More than 1,375 F-35 aircraft are operational around the world, and the global fleet has surpassed one million flight hours. The aircraft operates from 42 bases worldwide, including 13 countries that operate the F-35 on their own soil.
The growing international fleet gives Finland access to a widely adopted fifth-generation platform used by multiple allied air forces. That common operating environment supports interoperability, shared training and closer cooperation among F-35 operators.
Finland’s first permanently based F-35A aircraft therefore mark both a national defense milestone and a new phase in the country’s participation in the global F-35 enterprise. The 64-aircraft program, domestic industrial participation and ongoing training will shape the Finnish Air Force’s transition to fifth-generation airpower.
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