Finland has completed a critical infrastructure investment ahead of the F-35A fighter jet deliveries that will begin at the end of 2026. The assembly and maintenance (MRO) facilities for the F135 engines built in the Linnavuori region of Nokia were completed on schedule, marking the most important industrial cooperation threshold of the F-35 programme.
built by “Defence Facilities” and designed in accordance with the high safety requirements of the US engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, these facilities have been handed over to Patria, the strategic partner responsible for the assembly, maintenance and repair of the F135 engines. This step guarantees the independent maintenance of Finland’s F-35 fleet throughout its entire operational life, with no external dependence.
Maintenance Security and Strategic Position
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen stressed the strategic importance of this development. “The purpose of the industrial cooperation managed by the Ministry of Defence is to provide the country with maintenance security and at the same time employment. The production of F-35 parts in Linnavuori is an important concrete step in the defence and security cooperation between Finland and the United States.”
He also said that this project is a recognition of the Finnish expertise that is relied upon in projects at the highest level of requirements. Emphasising that the F-35 will be the backbone of the air defence of the entire democratic world, Häkkänen stated that Finland will become an important centre of expertise with Linnavuori.
From Engine Assembly to Full Scope MRO
The new facilities will initially be used for the assembly of F135 engines and components. The long-term plan includes the transition to full-scale maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations by 2030. This gradual transition is intended to increase Finland’s logistical and technological depth.
Finland’s first F-35A fighter jets will arrive at the Lapland Air Wing’s Rovaniemi Base at the end of 2026.
This facility of Finland, the newest member of NATO, has a serious importance in the northern wing of the alliance. The Linnavuori facility, which was built under intensive US supervision, reinforces the technological depth of NATO’s northern flank. This strategic location will not only support Finland’s military operations, but will also help optimise interoperability with other F-35 users in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
