Finland has presented its first F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter during a rollout ceremony held on December 16, 2025, at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
The aircraft, serial JF-501, is the first of 64 F-35As ordered by Finland under the HX Fighter Program, which will replace the Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fleet. Finland selected the F-35A in December 2021 following a competitive evaluation that also included the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen E, and F/A-18 Super Hornet, concluding that the aircraft best met its operational requirements and security-of-supply criteria.
The ceremony was attended by Finland’s Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Air Force Commander Major General Timo Herranen, senior Lockheed Martin executives, and representatives from government and industry.
Aircraft has completed first flight
Final assembly of JF-501 has been completed, and the aircraft conducted its first flight on December 8, 2025, as part of Lockheed Martin’s production and acceptance testing process. The rollout follows earlier production milestones, including a forward fuselage signing ceremony in October 2024 and the installation of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine in 2025.
The aircraft will now undergo additional ground and flight tests before being inspected and accepted by the US Defense Contract Management Agency. Formal handover to Finland is expected after the completion of these checks.
Training to begin in Arkansas
Following acceptance, the aircraft will be transferred to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. The base will host the initial training of Finnish pilots and maintenance personnel ahead of the aircraft’s deployment to Finland.
According to the Finnish Air Force, the first F-35As are expected to arrive in Finland in 2026, with deliveries continuing into the early 2030s. The Hornet fleet is scheduled to be phased out by 2030.
“This aircraft allows us to begin the transition to F-35 operations,” Herranen said during the ceremony.
Finland plans to operate 64 F-35As, making it one of the larger F-35 fleets in Europe. The program includes industrial participation agreements involving Finnish companies in aircraft production, engine assembly, and sustainment activities, aimed at supporting domestic defense-industrial capabilities alongside the introduction of the new fighter.
NATO context and regional air defense
Finland’s transition to the F-35 is taking place against the backdrop of its accession to NATO in April 2023. The Finnish Air Force plays a central role in national air defense and contributes to NATO’s posture in Northern Europe, where air surveillance, quick reaction alert duties, and interoperability with allied forces are increasingly emphasized.
The F-35 multirole fighter ushers Finland's air defence into a new era. The @LockheedMartin F-35A Lightning II delivers unmatched combat capability in the 🇫🇮 operational environment. #ilmavoimat #JF501 #F35programme #F35 @Puolustusvoimat @DefenceFinland @thef35 @NATO @NATO_AIRCOM pic.twitter.com/Nrn6qOwGC0
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) December 16, 2025
The Finnish Air Force has highlighted that the F-35’s ability to operate within NATO command-and-control frameworks and share sensor data with allied assets aligns with the alliance’s air defense and air policing requirements in the Baltic and High North regions.