The event, led by Major Mikko Ruonala, Deputy Director of the Air Combat Centre, attracted around 100 participants. Attendees included leaders from the Finnish F-35 Programme, Air Force personnel, and representatives from the Defence Command, Army, and Navy, all involved in planning and executing F-35 operations.
Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo, F-35 Programme Director, highlighted the significance of the F-35 for the entire Defence Forces. He noted that the aircraft represents a substantial leap in capability, enhancing performance across all services.
The F-35’s advanced features, such as diverse sensors, sensor fusion, and extensive connectivity, were emphasised during the session. These capabilities are expected to improve situational awareness and integration with various systems and command posts within the FDF.
The U.S. pilots shared insights into the F-35’s performance and discussed how its operations could be incorporated into the FDF’s planning. They also addressed the aircraft’s potential to support joint and multi-domain operations, which are becoming increasingly important for the Finnish Defence Forces.
An officer from the Army Command noted that the session reinforced existing efforts to integrate the F-35’s capabilities into Army operations, including aviation and special operations forces. The event sparked interest across all Defence Forces services in exploring new opportunities presented by the F-35.
A Navy Command commander highlighted the mutual understanding among the services that the F-35 will serve the entire Defence Forces. He emphasised the need for coordinated procedures, systems, and tactics to fully leverage the aircraft’s capabilities.
One of the visiting U.S. pilots, with 18 months of F-35 experience, described the aircraft as a force multiplier. He highlighted its ability to share data among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, providing comprehensive situational awareness.
The pilot also praised the F-35’s sensor fusion, which autonomously gathers and presents information in an easily digestible format. This feature allows pilots to receive large amounts of information without significant cognitive effort.
Finland is set to receive its first F-35 fighters during initial training in the United States, starting in autumn 2025. The first Finnish Air Force F-35s are expected to arrive in Finland in the latter half of 2026.
The training session also covered the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter capabilities. Lieutenant Colonel Rami Lindström, Commander of Fighter Squadron 31 at Karelia Air Wing, found the session useful and noted that the F-35’s capabilities will broaden the Air Force’s scope of missions.
The Air Combat Centre, based at Satakunta Air Wing, will support the introduction of the F-35 fleet with its expertise and resources. Key tasks include understanding how Finland’s environment and threat landscape will affect the F-35’s integration and coordinating virtual environments for training.
The first Finnish contingent will begin their F-35 initial training, including theory and simulator sessions, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida this autumn.
