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Finland has entered a new era of military air defense with the arrival of its first two permanently based Lockheed Martin F-35A ‘Lightning II’ fighter jets. While these aircraft arrived in the north of the country in September, last week’s arrival ceremony marked the official beginning of their tenure in the Finnish Air Force. The delivery of the new jets comes at a time when Europe’s F-35 fleet is expanding quickly.
Air defense has become a particularly important pillar of the Finnish military since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. Finland’s proximity to Russia (with which it shares a lengthy land border along its eastern periphery) also prompted it to join NATO in April of 2023, at which point it became the 31st member of the alliance. Such was the scale of the arrival ceremony that 400 guests were present.
Finland’s First F-35s
The Finnish Air Force confirmed in a statement released last week that it had welcomed its first two permanent Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to its fleet. These jets bear the registrations JF-510 and JF-512, and they first reached the Nordic country on September 18, 2026, when they touched down in Rovaniemi at 5:45 PM. Their arrival ceremony followed 13 days later, on October 1.
According to coverage by YLE, Finland has committed to an overall procurement of 64 F-35s, valued at a total of €10 billion ($11.2 billion). The country is closely involved in the overall F-35 program, with Lockheed Martin highlighting the fact that Finnish firm Patria is “the first company other than Lockheed Martin to produce the F-35 forward fuselage.” Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President OJ Sanchez said:
“Finland continues to play an increasingly important role in Nordic, European, and NATO security. The F-35 will provide a powerful, connected capability that will help the Finnish Defence Forces meet the demands of an evolving security environment.”
A Very Special Ceremony
As seen in the photo embedded above, Finnish President Alexander Stubb was among the various dignitaries present at the F-35s’ arrival ceremony. This event, in total, was attended by some 400 guests and media representatives, as well as Lapland Air Wing personnel. The Lapland Air Wing is a 420-strong division of the Finnish Air Force that is based in Rovaniemi and protects Finland’s northern airspace.
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Air Force Commander Major General Timo Herranen, US Ambassador to Finland Howard Brodie, and F-35 Joint Program Office Program Executive Officer Lieutenant General Gregory Masiello were among the other guests. According to YLE, Finnish President Alexander Stubb also took the opportunity to give the country’s first F-35A jet a very Finnish name.
Specifically, it will be known as ‘Sisu,’ a term that, as YLE notes, does not have a direct English translation but embodies the spirit of perseverance in the face of adversity. Stubb and the other ceremony attendees were treated to a solo flight demo by an F/A-18 ‘Hornet,’ as well as the first F-35 flight by a Finnish pilot in Finland. Lieutenant Colonel Jaakko Sointu was the pilot honored with the latter duty.
Full Operational Capability By 2030
Finland has ordered a grand total of 64 F-35s, so, in terms of deliveries, things are only just getting started. UA News reports that another eight of the country’s F-35s are currently based in the US for maintenance and training purposes, with deliveries expected to continue through late 2030. This is also when full operational capability is expected, following initial operational capability in early 2028.
It is thought that Finland’s 64-strong fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets will serve the country’s air force until the 2060s. The arrival of the first pair is reflective of a wider trend in Europe, which has seen the continent’s overall F-35 fleet grow considerably in recent times. On this front, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen notes that “Europe will soon have over 700 fifth-generation fighters.”
