Finland’s first F-35 fighters have arrived in Finland
The first two of Finland’s F-35s arrived at Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi on 18 September. The arrival of the aircraft marks the beginning of a new era for the Finnish Defence Forces.
The introduction of Finland’s F-35 fleet has concretely started, as Finland’s first two F-35A Lightning II fighter jets arrived at Lapland Air Wing on 18 September.
The fighter aircraft left the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on 15 September. The aircraft made an intermediate landing at Lajes Air Base in the Azores, Portugal, and they entered Finnish airspace at 5.21 pm. The aircraft were refuelled in mid-air. They landed in Rovaniemi at 5.45 pm, escorted by F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
The aircraft were ferried by pilots from the U.S. Air Force. During the ferry flight, the Finnish national emblems, the roundels, were covered on the aircraft, because international ferry flights flown by American military pilots are marked by the emblems of the United States and the emblems of the other nation are covered by temporary markings. The registration numbers of the aircraft and the Finnish Air Force emblems on the vertical stabilizers were visible.
The type designation JF comes from Joint Fighter in English. It underlines the added value and importance of the aircraft for the capability of all the Services. All aircraft in the fleet will receive registration numbers from JF-501 to JF-564. The fighter jets that have now arrived in Finland are JF-510 and JF-512.
The fighter jets that have arrived in Finland on 18 September are JF-510 and JF-512. Photo: Finnish Air Force
Beginning of a new era for Finland’s air defence
The F-35 system is critical for Finland’s defence capability and the Air Force’s combat capability into the 2060s. The capable, modern multirole fighter fleet is an essential part of Finland’s military defence. Since April 2023, the Air Force has been operating as a full member of NATO also in tasks of the Alliance.
– The F-35 is one of the largest capability projects of Finland’s military defence, and it has a high level of ambition. We will have a very advanced multi-role fighter that fits Finland’s security environment excellently. However, the arrival of the first fighter jets in Rovaniemi is not the end point, but the beginning: we are building the capability to fully utilize the aircraft’s performance potential – as part of Finland’s defence system and a seamless part of the Alliance’s air defence and striking power, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Janne Jaakkola emphasises.
The F-35 multirole fighter is described as a force multiplier and a battlefield quarterback. Compared with our current Hornet fleet, the F-35 brings in new types of tasks and advanced features.
– The combat capability of the F-35 is in a league of its own. The complex and advanced sensors of the fighter enable detecting and identifying new types of targets, and sensor fusion merges data derived from the aircraft systems to support the pilot’s situational awareness and decision-making. This information is not only available for an individual aircraft, but it can be shared with the other actors on the ground, at sea and in the air through the networked defence system. The F-35 enhances the situational awareness of all networked friendly forces in the combat, Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Timo Herranen describes when summing up the capabilities of the new fleet of fighters.
– Compared with our current fleet, the internal fuel capacity of the F-35 allows for extended endurance and a wider operational range. The growing range of missiles, a diversifying and highly advanced weapon selection as well as the aircraft’s jamming systems and stealth capabilities enhance combat effectiveness and enable operations even in highly contested environments. This means both improved survivability into and out of mission and an advantage in the actual combat situation. The decisive advantage still belongs to the one who sees first. Low observability is not only due to the shape and surface configuration of the aircraft, but its sensors also meet low-observable requirements. These features further enable us to engage in combat together with the Army and the Navy, Herranen continues.
The Commander of the Finnish Air Force receiving the new fighter jets at the Lapland Air Wing. Photo: Finnish Air Force
The Defence Forces’ joint capability builds up as the implementation of the F-35 system progresses. With the help of the F-35, the Finnish Army, Navy and Air Force are able to protect targets belonging to society and the Defence Forces together more effectively than before. In addition, the clear commitment of NATO F-35 operators to strengthen interoperability will build an effective air defence capability across Europe. The capability can be rapidly targeted toward main effort areas, and it can be sustained and maintained where it is most effective for operational continuity. This brings significant added value for Finland’s security.
– Today we reached the most important milestone of the F-35 Programme, as Finland’s first F-35 fighter jets arrived in Rovaniemi and the introduction of the new capability in Finland begins. We are on schedule toward achieving full operational capability by 2030, and based on current information, Finland will achieve at least the capability we estimated when making the procurement decision - and in many respects, more, Director of the F-35 Programme, Colonel (ret) Henrik Elo sums up.
– It is not just about the introduction of a new fighter, but integrating the F-35 into Finland’s entire defence system and NATO’s collective defence. Our primary mission in the coming years is to ensure that we maximize the full capability of this system procured for Finland, he continues.
Arrival ceremony for invited guests and media on 1 October
The aircraft will undergo post-ferry flight inspections after the arrival in Finland, during which they will remain out of public sight. On 1 October, the Finnish Air Force will hold the Arrival Ceremony of the first F-35 aircraft to display the F-35 fighter jets to media representatives and invited guests. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb is also an invited guest at the ceremony.
Along with the representatives of the Finnish Air Force and the F-35 Programme management, Colonel Tuukka Elonheimo, who is taking over as the new Commander of Lapland Air Wing on 1 October, will be present at the event. Since 1 July 2024, Colonel Elonheimo has worked as the Chief of the Foreign Liaison Office in Washington, D.C., USA. The Foreign Liaison Office (FLO) serves as a coordinating link between Finland’s F-35 Programme and the global F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) in the United States.
Colonel Saku Joukas, the current Commander of Lapland Air Wing, will transfer to the task of the Chief of the Foreign Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.
Training continues in two countries
The first eight fighters from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Production Lot 17 completed for Finland are currently utilised by Finnish pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel in the F-35 initial training.
Pilots, aircraft mechanics and specialists from various fields are participating in the training in the United States. The training is carried out at two bases: Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. The training began in Eglin a year ago and the first groups have already completed their training.
The training of Finnish personnel will continue to the early 2028 in the United States. After this, F-35 training will be conducted entirely in Finland, with the exception of individual courses.
The training of aircraft mechanics begins in Rovaniemi in late 2026 and the training of pilots in January 2027. The instructors will be Finnish personnel who have received initial training in the United States. The Air Force will also receive support for pilot training from the other F-35 operating countries, such as the United States, Norway and Denmark.
F-35 training for conscript assistant mechanics will set off in 2027. Compared with the Hornet fleet, the role of conscripts in operating the F-35 will remain virtually unchanged, meaning that even with the introduction of the new aircraft type, the duties of conscripts and reservists will not undergo significant changes.
Conversion training for the personnel of the Air Force’s other branches and reservists will be implemented in conjunction with the introduction into service of the F-35 capability. For reservists, F-35 conversion training will be implemented in the form of refresher training exercises. The goal is to be able to start the exercises in about two years from the start of operating.
The aircraft were ferried by pilots from the U.S. Air Force. Photo: Finnish Air Force
Building the infrastructure results in a combat-resistant capability to operate the new fleet in normal and emergency circumstances
Building the infrastructure required for the F-35 fleet progresses well and according to schedule. The Rovaniemi airbase was prepared to welcome the first aircraft arriving in Finland.
At Karelia Air Wing in Rissala, the goal is to have infrastructure work mostly completed in 2027, in order to prepare the base for receiving the first F-35 fighters during 2028. At Satakunta Air Wing in Pirkkala and the Air Force Academy in Tikkakoski, preparations are also underway for the upcoming F-35 era. Construction and modification works are being carried out to ensure that the airbases meet the security requirements of the multinational F-35 programme as well as national operation needs. For example, operation-related structures, facilities and apron repairs required for the F-35 have been completed at the airbases.
Full operational capability will be achieved by the end of 2030
The capability builds up with the acceptance of aircraft from the production line and the deliveries will continue until the end of 2030.
The initial operational capability will be achieved at the beginning of 2028, when Lapland Air Wing will have introduced the F-35 and operates the F-35 only. Full operational capability of the F-35 system will be achieved by the end of 2030, up to which point the Finnish Air Force will operate the F/A-18 Hornets and the F-35A fighters simultaneously.
Read more here:
The F-35 Programme to Yield Capability to the Entire Defence System
16.12.2025
Finland’s first F-35A multirole fighter was presented to the public at a rollout ceremony
16.9.2025
Finnish Air Force aircraft maintenance personnel begin F-35 initial training in the United States
Related content on YouTube:
F-35 Initial Training in the United States
Finnish Air Force – History of the Capability
