DefenseFirst F-35A fighter from Finland rolls off Lockheed Martin assembly line
The first F-35A Lightning II fighter destined for the Finnish Air Force has rolled off the final assembly line at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas.
The fighter, still unpainted and covered only with the characteristic green primer of the assembly stage, was towed out of one of the manufacturer’s hangars, as revealed by the manufacturer.
Images released by Lockheed Martin on social media show the jet in its basic form, without national markings. The aircraft will now undergo the next phases of system integration, ground and flight tests, before being officially delivered to the Finnish Air Force.
Finland ordered 64 units of the F-35A in a contract signed in February 2022, valued at approximately $9.4 billion. The program, known as HX Fighter, was created to replace the fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets, which have been in operation since the 1990s and are expected to be retired by the end of the decade.
The first Finnish aircraft of the type will be used in the United States, where pilots and maintenance crews from the country will undergo training and certifications before the jets are transferred to Europe.
The adoption of the F-35A carries significant strategic weight. With a border of over 1,300 kilometers with Russia and after its accession to NATO in 2023, Finland strengthens its air defense and enhances interoperability with Western allies.
The F-35A is considered the most advanced combat fighter currently in operation, combining stealth, integrated sensors, and the ability to operate in a networked environment, which enhances situational awareness and deterrence power.
Official deliveries of the F-35A to Finland are expected to begin in 2026, with full operational capability anticipated at the start of the next decade.
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