Patria will build a site in Finland for the assembly of F-35 Block 4 fighter jets, linked to the $9.6 billion jet procurement contract between Finland’s MOD and Lockheed Martin in February 2022. The assembly facility will be near Nokia, with construction starting in the second half of 2024.
The agreement includes engine maintenance throughout the entire life cycle of the F-35 fleet. The assembly plant will work closely with Patria’s regional aircraft hub in Tampere, employing around 100 personnel in various assembly roles.
F-35s will replace the Air Force’s McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet jets by 2030, with the first batch due for delivery by 2026. Industrial cooperation is expected to expand by 2030, potentially including local production or assembly of aircraft components and systems.
The Air Force has tested F-35’s performance in extreme weather conditions in Arctic regions of Finland. Recent exercises have involved using “closed highway” stretches as temporary airstrips. The Air Force is conducting drills in northern Finland until March 2 to further test the F-35’s capabilities.
