Two Finnish F-35A Lightning II fighters have formally entered Finland, marking a major step in the country’s transition from the F/A-18 Hornet to the fifth-generation platform. The aircraft were welcomed at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi as part of Helsinki’s 64-jet procurement from Lockheed Martin, agreed in 2022 at a reported cost of $9.4 billion.Designated JF-510 and JF-512, the fighters flew from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, production site to Finland. President Alexander Stubb took part in the reception and gave the first aircraft the name “Sisu,” reflecting the Finnish concept of perseverance and emphasizing the F-35’s contribution to NATO deterrence.Finland’s transition is also supported by domestic industrial work, including completion of its first Finnish-built F135 engine. Meanwhile, eight additional aircraft remain at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Finnish personnel are undergoing pilot and sustainment training. Initial operational capability is expected in early 2028, with the complete fleet planned to reach full operational capability by the end of the decade.
