Patria assembles Finland's first F135 fighter jet engine

Finnish defense company Patria has completed the assembly of its first F135 fighter engine at its new facility in Linnavuori, Nokia. This milestone marks a significant step in Finland’s participation in the F-35 program and establishes domestic capabilities for the assembly, maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the engines.

Patria and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, entered an agreement to begin final assembly in Finland, with full-scale production planned to continue through 2030. The facility is intended to support the F135 fleet throughout the entire service life of Finland’s F-35 aircraft.

Finland has ordered 64 F-35A fighters, with the first aircraft scheduled to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in autumn 2026. Officials noted that the domestic assembly capability strengthens Finland’s security of supply and demonstrates close cooperation between Finnish and US defense industries.