The event was attended by Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force Major General Timo Herranen and F-35 Programme Director Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo, among others. The ceremony was hosted by Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, with around 200 invited guests from Finnish and U.S. defence administrations, industry and media.
Here it is – Finland’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter. 🇫🇮
Aircraft JF-501 was unveiled at a rollout ceremony on 16 December 2025 at @LockheedMartin’s Fort Worth facility in the USA. 🇺🇸 #ilmavoimat #JF501 #F35programme #F35 @Puolustusvoimat @thef35 pic.twitter.com/FHRZd1mO6C— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) December 16, 2025
“We have worked long and hard to get to this moment and we look forward to starting F-35 operations next year,” Major General Timo Herranen said after the ceremony. Construction of the JF-501 began in 2023, with the aircraft completing final assembly in October and receiving paint and stealth coatings in November.
The JF-501 conducted its maiden flight on 8 December as part of factory test flights at Fort Worth. Following further ground and flight tests, the US Defense Contract Management Agency will carry out its own evaluations before the aircraft is transferred to Finnish ownership.
In early 2026, the JF-501 will be ferried to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where the first Finnish F-35A fighters will enter service for initial training. Once training of Finnish Air Force personnel in the United States is completed, the aircraft will be flown to Finland.
The Finnish Air Force states that the F-35 Programme is critical to national defence capability and air combat performance into the 2060s. Since April 2023, Finland has operated as a full member of NATO, including in alliance tasks.
“This is not just about the new aircraft. It is a step to a stronger, more modern and more agile defence,” said Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces General Janne Jaakkola. “The F-35 has state-of-the art capabilities to enhance our national and collective deterrence and defence.”
“In the Finnish operating environment, survivability, lethality and cooperation are imperative,” Major General Herranen said. “The F-35 will deliver unmatched capability in all of these areas. It will bring our defence to a whole new level of capability.”
The Finnish Defence Forces emphasise the aircraft’s role across all services, including support to Army and Navy operations. “The F-35 and its capabilities are a clear and very important force multiplier from the perspective of Army operations,” said Commander of the Finnish Army Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki.
“I’m convinced that the F-35 fleet will provide, as they say, a giant leap in our maritime situational awareness and our air–sea battle concept,” said Commander of the Finnish Navy Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen. He added that he was eager to see the aircraft support national and allied naval operations in the Baltic Sea.
Finland is one of twenty member states in the multinational F-35 Programme, with most European operators also belonging to NATO. “Finland is a NATO member and committed to act as a dependable defence provider in the northern flank,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.
The Finnish Air Force has designated its F-35A fleet as Joint Fighters, reflected in the JF registration numbers ranging from JF-501 to JF-564. “The F-35 can conduct a diverse range of tasks the most important ones being air combat, participating in Army and Navy combat operations, projecting power deep into enemy territory, and intelligence and sharing of situational picture,” Major General Herranen said.
He added that joint operations across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains will increase with the introduction of the new aircraft. All Finnish F-35s will feature low-observable markings, with toned-down national insignia and selected aircraft carrying traditional squadron emblems.
A total of 16 Finnish Joint Fighters are currently in production, with the first eight to be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base. Aircraft from JF-509 onwards will be delivered directly to Finland.
The F-35 Programme continues the HX Fighter Programme launched in 2015 to replace Finland’s F/A-18 Hornet fleet. “The F-35 is the best solution for the Air Force in terms of military performance meeting Finland’s requirements,” Major General Herranen said.
