Patria has completed the assembly of the first F135 propulsion system intended for the Finnish Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II, marking a significant milestone in Finland’s fifth-generation fighter program.
Under its partnership with F135 developer Pratt & Whitney, Patria is conducting initial engine assembly at its Linnavuori facility in Nokia. The work supports Finland’s planned fleet of 64 F-35A aircraft.
Production at the Linnavuori site is expected to continue through the end of the decade. Once the assembly phase concludes, the facility will transition to maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade services as the aircraft enter operational service.
The program is expected to create approximately 50 direct jobs at Patria by 2030.
First Aircraft Deliveries
Finland’s F-35 program began with a 2021 foreign military sale involving US aerospace company Lockheed Martin. The acquisition forms part of Helsinki’s effort to replace its aging fleet of F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
In 2025, the United States launched Finland’s F-35A variant aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
The contract covers up to 64 aircraft, with the first airframe scheduled for delivery to the Finnish Air Force’s Lapland Air Wing in late 2026.
