Following thorough preparations, Patria has begun assembling the F-35 fighter forward fuselages and engines and is manufacturing structural components. The programme is progressing as planned.
Text: Matti Remes Main photo: Lockheed Martin Coorporation
Since the outset, 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 set to get underway this year, explains Petri Hepola, Patria’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Chief Program Officer of F-35.
Finland has ordered a total of 64 F-35A fighters from US-based Lockheed Martin. Patria is responsible for the assembly of the forward fuselages and the manufacture of the landing gear doors in Finland.
Major step in defence industry collaboration Production of the forward fuselages began in early March in Patria’s upgraded facilities at Halli, Jämsä. Production of the landing gear doors began at Halli in spring 2026.
Patria is the first partner outside of the United States to manufacture forward fuselages for Lockheed Martin’s fighter aircraft.
Components manufactured in Finland are delivered to Lockheed Martin’s final assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas. According to Hepola, Patria is the first partner outside of the United States to manufacture forward fuselages for Lockheed Martin’s fighter aircraft.
– This represents a significant step in defence industry cooperation between Finland and the United States, Hepola notes.
In addition to the forward fuselages and components destined for Finland’s own aircraft, Patria also manufactures them for Lockheed Martin’s global F-35 supply chain. Under the current framework agreement, Patria will produce a total of 400 forward fuselages and landing gear door sets for F-35 fighters between 2026 and 2042.
Patria is the first partner outside of the United States to manufacture forward fuselages for Lockheed Martin’s fighter aircraft. In addition to structural components, Patria is tasked with assembling F135 engines for the F-35 fighters. To facilitate this, new production facilities were completed for Patria at Linnavuori, Nokia, meeting stringent US Government and Pratt & Whitney security requirements.
Our aim is to deliver the first completed engines during 2026, says Hepola.
After assembly, the same facilities will be used for maintenance and overhaul of Finland’s F135 engines. Patria is responsible for maintenance throughout the lifecycle of Finland’s F-35 fleet, currently projected to extend into the 2060s.
Patria’s extensive expertise in fighter aircraft
According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the first F-35 fighters acquired by Finland will arrive at the Lapland Air Command base in Rovaniemi at the end of 2026. Over the coming years, they will replace the F/A-18 Hornets acquired in the 1990s, which are scheduled to be retired at the turn of the 2020s and 2030s.
Patria was previously responsible for assembling the General Electric engines for the Hornet fleet. As a strategic partner to the Defence Forces, Patria has also handled demanding maintenance, structural repairs, and lifecycle upgrades for the Hornets. Petri Hepola states that the extensive experience gained with the Hornet programme provides a solid foundation for the F-35 programme as well.
– 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 points out that, as with other military technologies, developments in fighter aircraft have been rapid. For example, he highlights the F-35’s exceptional stealth capabilities, which must be carefully managed in the production of structural components.
Securing expertise for the future The manufacture of F-35 components, engine assembly, and maintenance in Finland is based on an industrial cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney.
The transfer of F-35-related information from the United States is subject to licensing and strict export controls. Thus, the comprehensive cooperation package agreed by Finland is, in Hepola’s view, 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.
Finland’s first F-35 fighter was unveiled at a Roll-Out Ceremony in Fort Worth 16 December, 2025.
PHOTO: Finnish Air Forces / Tuulia Kujanpää
The programme progresses as planned
Petri Hepola states that Patria’s services, production infrastructure and expertise, together with the Defence Forces’ contribution, are creating a nationally and internationally significant centre of F-35 expertise in Finland.
These capabilities are also vital for Finland’s military security of supply.
Additionally, the programme offers highly skilled manufacturing jobs for decades to come. According to Hepola, the F-35 programme currently employs 120 people at Patria. This number will increase to over 200 in the coming years, as preparations are made not only for production but also for aircraft sustainment.
Petri Hepola has led Patria’s F-35 programme for nearly seven years.
– Good cooperation between all those involved in the programme has ensured that, after a long planning phase, we are now able to begin production.
