Finland received its first F-35A Lightning II fighters on September 18, 2026. Aircraft JF-510 and JF-512 landed at Rovaniemi Airbase in Lapland, marking the start of the national phase of the program that will replace the F/A-18C/D Hornets with a fleet of 64 new planes.
The information was published by Cavok Brasil on September 21, 2026. The Finnish government’s timeline anticipates the replacement of the Hornets in combat squadrons between 2028 and 2030, when the F-35A is expected to achieve full operational capability.
Two F-35A Arrive in Rovaniemi After Journey Started in Texas
Image: Ilmavoimat/Finnish Air Force.
The fighters departed from Fort Worth, Texas, on September 15. During the journey to Europe, they made a stop at Lajes Air Base in the Azores. The flight included aerial refueling and participation from United States Air Force pilots.
Upon entering Finnish airspace, the new aircraft were greeted by F/A-18 Hornets from the Finnish Air Force. The models flew together to Rovaniemi in an operation that brought together the incoming fighters and the aircraft that will remain in service during the transition.
Third Fighter Remains in the Azores After Technical Incident
A third F-35A, identified as JF-511, did not complete the journey with the other two. The aircraft remained temporarily at Lajes Air Base due to a technical issue that occurred during the flight.
JF-511 is expected to proceed to Finland once the issue is resolved. The incident does not alter the overall timeline of the fleet renewal, which will be carried out over several years and includes aircraft deliveries, team training, and base preparations.
Program of 64 Fighters Will Replace Fleet Used Since the 1990s
Image: Ilmavoimat/Finnish Air Force.
The Finnish government selected the F-35A in December 2021 to replace the F/A-18C/D Hornets. The order includes 64 fighters, along with munitions, maintenance equipment, training systems, and services necessary to operationalize the new fleet.
The Hornets began entering service in the country during the 1990s. The replacement was planned due to the aging of the aircraft, the expected increase in maintenance costs, and the difficulties in extending their operational lifespan beyond 2030.
The Ministry of Defense reported that the F-35 achieved the best result in the HX program, created to select the new Finnish fighter jet. The evaluation considered military capability, security of supply, domestic industry participation, and acquisition and operation costs.
The swap will not be immediate. F-35A and F/A-18 will continue to fly together for several years while the Air Force receives the new aircraft, expands training, and gradually transfers missions to the new fleet.
Finnish Pilots and Technicians Undergo Training in the United States
Some of the F-35A purchased by Finland will initially remain in the United States. These aircraft will be used to train pilots, mechanics, and other personnel before operations are expanded at Finnish bases.
The training includes flight procedures, inspections, refueling, maintenance, and mission planning. When new aircraft are delivered to the country, the Air Force should already have trained teams ready to operate and maintain the systems.
Technical training is as crucial as pilot preparation. The F-35A relies on professionals from various areas, specific parts, digital systems, and protected structures to organize missions and monitor each aircraft’s conditions.
During the transition, the Air Force will need to support teams for two models. The structure dedicated to the F/A-18 will remain active until the last Hornets are retired, while the number of personnel qualified to work with the F-35 increases.
Rovaniemi Prepared to Operate the Fighter in Northern Finland
Image: Ilmavoimat/Finnish Air Force.
Rovaniemi Air Base houses the Lapland Air Wing and participates in monitoring the airspace in the northern part of the country. Its location near the Arctic Circle imposes intense cold, snow, and prolonged changes in daylight throughout the year.
The facilities have been adapted to accommodate the F-35A, but the fleet will not be concentrated solely in Rovaniemi. Other bases are also being prepared to allow for the distribution of fighters across Finnish territory according to operational needs.
The arrival of the aircraft comes three years after Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, officially in April 2023. The decision to purchase the F-35A, however, was made before the country joined the military alliance.
The Air Force intends to employ the model in air defense, reconnaissance, and data sharing. The fighter’s systems allow for data exchange with other aircraft and ground units during national operations or missions conducted with allied countries.
The Finnish fighters are included in production batches 17 to 22 and receive the Technical Refresh 3 architecture, known as TR-3. This configuration enhances the processing capability used by current systems and future updates to the aircraft.
The TR-3 also serves as a foundation for features associated with the Block 4 standard. The package includes the evolution of sensors, data processing, electronic warfare, and weapon integration through software and equipment upgrades.
The F-35A gathers information from various sensors and presents it in an integrated form to the pilot. This data can be shared with other platforms, allowing different units to track targets and coordinate their actions based on the received information.
The project also aims to reduce radar detection. This feature does not make the aircraft invisible, but it can make locating it more difficult under certain conditions, depending on the mission, the aircraft’s configuration, and the sensors used by the adversary.
Patria assembles engines and produces components in Finland
Finnish company Patria is part of the international F-35 production chain and has begun manufacturing structural components for the program. This participation is part of the industrial agreements related to the purchase and aims to create domestic capacity to support the fighters throughout their operational lifespan.
The company also works with the F135 engine, produced by Pratt & Whitney. In September 2026, Patria announced the completion of assembly of the first F135 engine at its Linnavuori facility.
The agreement includes the assembly of engines for Finnish aircraft and future maintenance services. This structure will allow part of the work to be carried out domestically, reducing the need to send all equipment abroad.
However, the production of the F-35 remains distributed across an international supply chain. Parts, services, and equipment are provided by companies from different countries participating in the program led by Lockheed Martin.
Transition will continue until full capability expected by 2030
The replacement of the Hornets is expected to advance between 2028 and 2030. Before the complete withdrawal of the old aircraft, Finland aims to achieve initial capability with the F-35A, maintaining surveillance and defense tasks during the transition period.
Full operational capability is expected by 2030. By then, the country must complete deliveries, train pilots and technicians, adapt facilities, and integrate the new fighter jets’ systems into the Air Force’s command structure.
The JF-510 and JF-512 are now entering the phase of operation in Finnish territory. The next step will be to incorporate the aircraft into activities in Rovaniemi and receive the JF-511 once the technical issue in the Azores has been resolved.
The withdrawal of the F/A-18s will depend on the joint progress of these steps. Meanwhile, both models will remain connected to the same renewal process.