On October 29, Lockheed Martin completed the final assembly of the first F-35A fighter jet for the Finnish Air Force completed. Photos show the aircraft still in primer paint in and in front of the production hall in Fort Worth, Texas.

The aircraft will now undergo a number of tests before it flies for the first time. This will be followed by the final coating, further measurements and additional test flights.

Delivery is therefore not expected for several months – whereby “delivery” is relative: the first F-35 aircraft from foreign customers usually remain in the USA for several years to be used for training purposes.

The Finnish pilots and technicians are trained at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, as is the case for Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Singapore. Italy, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, on the other hand, complete their training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

The first of a total of 64 F-35As for Finland is expected to be delivered to the Lapland Air Wing in 2026. The schedule envisages initial operational readiness (IOC) in 2027 and full operational readiness and replacement of the existing F/A-18 Hornet by the end of 2030.

Finland has ordered the aircraft in 2022 for 8.14 billion euros. Of this, 1.9 billion euros are earmarked in the 2025 defense budget.

Here for more reports about Lockheed-Martin and here for more current news about the Finnish armed forces.

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