Finland unveiled its first F-35A multirole fighter, JF-501, on December 16, 2025, at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas facility, advancing its 64-aircraft procurement program.
Finland marked a major milestone in its fighter modernisation programme with the rollout of its first F-35A, designated JF-501, at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production facility on December 16, 2025. The event confirmed steady progress in Finland’s 64-aircraft F-35 procurement approved in 2021 and signaled the programme’s transition into the delivery, testing, and training phase ahead of initial operational capability later in the decade. The ceremony was attended by around 200 guests from Finnish and U.S. defence authorities, industry, and media, including Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Timo Herranen, and F-35 Programme Director Col. (ret.) Henrik Elo, with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Greg Ulmer hosting.
The rollout highlighted the shift from planning and contracting to tangible aircraft delivery and personnel training. JF-501 represents the first aircraft produced under Finland’s decision to replace its F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet with the F-35A. Manufacturing of the aircraft began in 2023, with key milestones including a forward fuselage signing in October 2024, installation of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine in September 2025, and completion of final assembly and low-observable surface treatment in October and November 2025. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight on December 8, 2025, entering factory flight testing ahead of acceptance and handover.
After completing factory ground and flight tests, JF-501 is scheduled to undergo additional verification flights before its formal transfer to Finnish ownership. In early 2026, the aircraft is planned to be ferried to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, which will serve as the main hub for Finland’s initial F-35 pilot and maintainer training. The first eight Finnish F-35As are planned to be delivered to Ebbing for this purpose, while aircraft from JF-509 onward are expected to be delivered directly to Finland. Once U.S.-based training activities are complete, JF-501 and other training aircraft will be flown to Finland for operational integration.
Finland’s programme of record calls for a fleet of 64 F-35A fighters, making it the largest F-35 fleet in northern Europe. The first aircraft are planned to arrive in Finland in 2026, with initial operational capability targeted by the end of 2027. Karelia Air Wing is scheduled to receive its first F-35s in 2028, while full operational capability is planned by the end of 2030, aligned with the phased retirement of the Hornet fleet. From 2031 onward, the F-35 system—designated JF for Joint Fighter—is intended to serve as the Finnish Air Force’s primary combat aircraft.
The Joint Fighter designation reflects Finland’s concept of employing the F-35 as a fully integrated, joint capability supporting all branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Aircraft will carry registration numbers from JF-501 to JF-564, with subdued low-visibility national markings. Most aircraft will display the Finnish Air Force emblem on the vertical tail, while selected airframes will carry squadron insignia linked to Fighter Squadrons 11 and 31. At the time of rollout, 16 Finnish F-35s were reported to be in production across Lockheed Martin and partner facilities.
Operationally, Finland views the F-35 fleet as a cornerstone of national defence in both peacetime and crisis. Routine tasks include continuous air policing and surveillance of national airspace, while wartime missions focus on defensive counter-air operations and joint support to land and naval forces. Finnish commanders have emphasized the F-35’s advanced sensor and data-fusion capabilities, which enable the collection and sharing of large volumes of situational awareness data across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains, including operations in northern Finland and the Baltic Sea region.
The introduction of the F-35 is closely tied to Finland’s NATO membership, which began in April 2023, and to participation in the multinational F-35 user community, now comprising 20 countries worldwide. Training activities span multiple locations, with Finnish maintenance personnel beginning instruction at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in September 2025, followed by hands-on training at Ebbing. Finnish pilots have also participated in simulator training at Fort Worth, alongside continued cooperation with Nordic allies and NATO partners through joint exercises and Agile Combat Employment initiatives.
Industrial participation forms a key pillar of the programme, aimed at ensuring security of supply and embedding Finnish industry within the global F-35 sustainment network. Patria is responsible for F135 engine assembly and maintenance activities at its Linnavuori facility in Nokia, with engine assembly planned between 2025 and 2030 and a transition to full maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade operations from 2030 onward. Patria’s Halli facility in Jämsä is also set to manufacture major F-35 structural components, including forward fuselages and landing gear doors, for delivery to the United States through 2040. These activities are expected to generate long-term industrial and employment benefits within Finland.
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