TAMPERE- Patria has begun manufacturing F-35 fighter forward fuselages, landing gear doors, and F135 engine assemblies in Finland, and the company said the programme is progressing as planned.
The work supports Finland’s incoming F-35A fleet, with the first jets due at Lapland Air Command in Rovaniemi (RVN) at the end of 2026, while also feeding Lockheed Martin’s global supply chain.
Components built in Finland are shipped to Lockheed Martin’s final assembly line in Fort Worth (DFW), Texas.
Patria is the first partner outside the United States to produce forward fuselages for Lockheed Martin fighter aircraft, marking a notable step in defence industry cooperation between Finland and the United States.
Finland Expands Its Role in the Global F-35 Programme
Patria has played a pivotal role in the industrial cooperation that Finland sought to build as part of the Air Force’s multirole fighter acquisition. After an extended period of preparatory work, production is now getting underway.
Finland has ordered 64 F-35A fighters from Lockheed Martin to replace its ageing F/A-18 Hornet fleet, which was acquired in the 1990s and is scheduled for retirement around the turn of the 2020s and 2030s.
According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the first aircraft will arrive at the Lapland Air Command base in Rovaniemi at the end of 2026.
Patria is responsible for assembling the forward fuselages and manufacturing the landing gear doors in Finland. Forward fuselage production began in early March at Patria’s upgraded facilities in Halli, Jämsä.
Production of the landing gear doors started at the same site in spring 2026. Components made in Finland are delivered to Lockheed Martin’s final assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas.
Petri Hepola, Patria’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Program Officer for F-35, confirmed the company’s position in the programme.
“This represents a significant step in defence industry cooperation between Finland and the United States,” Hepola said. He has led Patria’s F-35 programme for nearly seven years.
A 400 Unit Framework Through 2042
Beyond components destined for Finland’s own aircraft, Patria manufactures forward fuselages and landing gear door sets for Lockheed Martin’s wider F-35 supply chain.
Under the current framework agreement, the company will produce a total of 400 forward fuselage and landing gear door sets between 2026 and 2042.
As reported by Defence Industry Europe, the programme has entered the production phase after several years of industrial preparation.
F135 Engine Assembly at Linnavuori
Patria is also tasked with assembling F135 engines for Finland’s F-35 fighters. New production facilities were completed at Linnavuori, Nokia, built to meet strict US Government and Pratt & Whitney security requirements. Patria aims to deliver its first completed engines during 2026.
After the assembly phase, the Linnavuori facilities will also handle maintenance and overhaul of Finland’s F135 engines. Patria is responsible for maintenance across the full lifecycle of Finland’s F-35 fleet, which is currently projected to run into the 2060s.
3 Decades of Fighter Aircraft Expertise
Patria’s earlier work on Finland’s Hornet fleet provides a foundation for the new programme. The company previously assembled General Electric engines for the Hornets and, as a strategic partner to the Finnish Defence Forces, carried out demanding maintenance, structural repairs, and lifecycle upgrades on the aircraft.
“Over three decades, we have built up first-class technical expertise in fighter aircraft. Of course, the F-35 programme has required us to learn many new aspects, both in forward fuselage production and engine assembly. We have received substantial know-how from Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney for these operations,” Hepola said.
He noted that developments in fighter aircraft have been rapid, and that the F-35’s advanced features, including its exceptional stealth characteristics, must be carefully managed during the production of structural components.
Export Controls and Industrial Cooperation
The manufacture of F-35 components, engine assembly, and maintenance in Finland rests on an industrial cooperation agreement between Finland’s Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney.
The transfer of F-35-related information from the United States remains subject to licensing and strict export controls, which in Hepola’s view makes the comprehensive cooperation package agreed by Finland exceptional.
“Patria’s close involvement provides an excellent foundation for developing expertise in F-35 design solutions, components, and the overall system.
This broad-based expertise will serve us well in future aircraft sustainment and related technologies,” he said.
Growing F-35 Expertise Centre
Patria said the programme, combined with the Finnish Defence Forces’ contribution, is creating a nationally and internationally significant F-35 expertise centre in Finland. The company views these capabilities as vital for the country’s military security of supply.
The work currently employs 120 people at Patria, a figure expected to rise above 200 in the coming years as preparations advance for both production and aircraft sustainment.
“Good cooperation between all those involved in the programme has ensured that, after a long planning phase, we are now able to begin production,” Hepola said. The company said the programme will deliver highly skilled manufacturing jobs for decades to come.
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