Rovaniemi, Finland – October 01, 2026 -- Finland has taken delivery of its first two permanently based F-35A fighter jets, bringing the total number of aircraft received under its order to 10 of 64 units. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) joined the Finnish Air Force for the arrival ceremony, which drew senior Finnish government and military officials alongside U.S. and allied representatives.
Finland now operates 10 of 64 contracted F-35A jets
Eight of the ten delivered aircraft remain temporarily stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Finnish pilots and maintainers are completing training ahead of the fleet's full introduction into national service. The two aircraft that landed in Finland mark the start of permanent domestic basing for the 5th Generation platform.
Finnish Air Force commander calls survivability a requirement, not a luxury
"A 5th Generation aircraft that can see farther but not be seen, share information faster, strike accurately and survive longer is not a luxury here. It is a requirement," said Major General Timo Herranen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force.
Patria becomes first non-Lockheed producer of F-35 forward fuselage
Finland's industrial stake in the program deepened earlier this year when Finnish manufacturer Patria became the first company other than Lockheed Martin to produce the F-35 forward fuselage. The milestone reinforces a broader European manufacturing footprint: 25% of every F-35 built by value is produced in Europe, and all major components are now manufactured on the continent.
Program spans 2,100 suppliers and 20 allied nations
Lockheed Martin's global F-35 enterprise draws on more than 2,100 suppliers across more than a dozen countries. Twenty allied nations have selected the aircraft, including 13 in Europe, a scale the company says strengthens interoperability and shared deterrence among allied forces. OJ Sanchez, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said the delivery to Finland reflects the country's growing role in Nordic, European and NATO security.
Global fleet surpasses 1,375 jets and one million flight hours
More than 1,375 F-35s are currently operational worldwide, with the fleet having surpassed one million cumulative flight hours. The aircraft operates from 42 bases globally, including 13 nations flying it from home soil.