Finland and Lockheed Martin mark historic arrival of first Finnish F-35

Finland has welcomed the first two F-35A fighter jets to be permanently based in the country, a milestone the Finnish Defence Forces framed as the start of a new era of 5th-generation capability.

An arrival ceremony hosted by the Finnish Air Force brought together senior Finnish government and military leaders, representatives from the United States and allied nations, industry partners, and Lockheed Martin. The event highlighted both the delivery and Finland’s growing role in bolstering security and deterrence across the Nordic region, Europe and the NATO alliance.

“What begins here is the introduction of a 5th Generation system built for the security environment we actually live in,” said Major General Timo Herranen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force. “The F-35 was chosen because it is designed for an environment like ours. Flying the F-35, our pilots can do the mission and come home to fly the next round. A 5th 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.”

“The arrival of Finland’s first F-35 is about far more than a new aircraft—it is about strengthening the nation’s ability to deter aggression, defend its sovereignty and secure its future,” said OJ Sanchez, President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “As Finland continues to play an increasingly important role in Nordic, European and NATO security, the F-35 will provide a powerful, connected capability that will help the Finnish Defence Forces meet the demands of an evolving security environment. We are proud to stand with Finland as it brings this critical capability home.”

Lockheed Martin leads the global F-35 program, which draws on a supply base of more than 2,100 companies across over a dozen countries. The aircraft has been selected by 20 allied nations, including 13 in Europe, with the program emphasizing interoperability and shared deterrence among partner air forces.

Industrial participation spans the continent, with roughly a quarter of each jet’s value produced in Europe and all major components now manufactured there. Earlier this year, Finland’s Patria became the first company outside Lockheed Martin to build the F-35 forward fuselage, highlighting the country’s role within the enterprise.

With the first aircraft arriving on Finnish soil, the nation has now received 10 of its planned 64 F-35A jets. Eight of those are currently at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Finnish pilots and maintainers are training ahead of continued integration into national service.

More than 1,375 F-35s are operational worldwide, with the fleet surpassing one million flight hours. The combat-proven aircraft operates from 42 bases globally, including 13 nations flying it on their home territory. Program officials position the platform as essential to maintaining air dominance as adversaries advance and older aircraft retire.