Finland has received its first two permanently based F-35A fighter aircraft, marking the start of a new era of fifth-generation air capability for the Finnish Defence Forces.
Lockheed Martin joined an arrival ceremony hosted by the Finnish Air Force, attended by senior Finnish government and military officials, US and allied representatives and industry partners. The event marked the milestone as Finland takes on a growing role in security and deterrence across the Nordic region, Europe and NATO.
“What begins here is the introduction of a fifth-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 fifth-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.”
Finland has received ten of its planned 64 F-35As. Eight of the aircraft are temporarily based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Finnish pilots and maintenance personnel are undergoing training ahead of the fleet’s continued introduction into Finnish service.
