Lockheed Martin has launched the Finnish Defence Force’s first F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas.
The milestone is part of Helsinki’s 2021 foreign military sale with the US to procure up to 64 of the fifth-generation fighter jets for nearly $10 billion.
It comes after Lockheed announced the completion of the aircraft’s final assembly in October, during which the company confirmed that the first eight platforms ordered would be temporarily stationed in Arkansas for Finnish Air Force training.
Once delivered, the new fighters will be stationed at Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi and Karelia Air Wing in Siilinjärvi.
“Finland is a NATO member and committed to act as a dependable defence provider in the northern flank,” Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen commented on the launch.
“Finland is investing heavily in national industrial capabilities through industrial participation. We believe that our investment and highly capable defence industry can benefit the F-35 program not just locally but also at a more global level.”
‘Shared Security’
Lockheed noted that Finland’s incoming F-35 fleet will be Europe’s largest, supported by a global network of over 1,900 suppliers.
This includes 30 Finnish businesses collaborating with the company to boost the country’s defense and aerospace sector.
The F-35 is currently employed by 20 countries, including 13 in the European region.
“The F-35 continues to demonstrate its ability to deter threats and prevail in combat, and it will give the Finnish Air Force a decisive edge in protecting the nation and bolstering allied partnership in the Nordic region and beyond,” said Greg Ulmer, president at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
“The F-35 program underpins a powerful network of integrated deterrence, advancing allied cooperation, industrial strength and shared security.”
