On December 16, 2025, Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted a formal rollout ceremony for the first F‑35A Lightning II destined for the Finnish Air Force. The event marked Finland’s entry into the F‑35 family and the beginning of a 64‑aircraft fleet, the largest F‑35 order in northern Europe.
The ceremony celebrated the aircraft’s completion and the handover of the airframe to the Finnish government, but the actual delivery of the aircraft to Finnish operational units is scheduled for early 2026. The first aircraft will be flown to Ebbing Air Force Base in Arkansas for pilot training before being shipped to Finland, a process that underscores the distinction between a rollout ceremony and the operational handover that will enable Finnish pilots to conduct missions.
Finnish industry will play a significant role in the program. Local companies are contracted to produce forward‑fuselage sections and to assemble the F135 engines that power the F‑35. The partnership is expected to create hundreds of high‑skill jobs and to embed Finnish expertise into the global F‑35 supply chain, strengthening domestic aerospace capabilities and providing a long‑term economic benefit beyond the initial purchase.
The Finnish Air Force plans to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) with the F‑35 fleet by late 2027, followed by full operational capability (FOC) by the end of 2030. This timeline aligns with the phased replacement of the aging F/A‑18 Hornets, which are slated for retirement by 2030, and positions Finland to enhance its deterrence posture on the northern flank of NATO after its 2023 accession to the alliance.
The total cost of Finland’s F‑35 program is approximately $9.4 billion, covering aircraft, weapons, services, and maintenance. The investment reflects Finland’s strategic priority to modernize its air defense and to integrate more closely with NATO’s collective security architecture, especially given the heightened security environment in the High North.
For Lockheed Martin, the Finnish order reinforces its status as the sole prime contractor for the F‑35 and expands its global footprint. The 64‑aircraft deal adds to the company’s existing inventory of over 1,270 operational F‑35s worldwide and supports a supply chain that involves more than 1,900 partner companies. The order also signals continued demand for the platform in Europe, bolstering Lockheed Martin’s revenue prospects and reinforcing its competitive advantage in the high‑tech defense market.
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