Patria and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, agreed in February 2026 to conduct final assembly of the first F135 engines in Finland. Production is under way and is scheduled to continue at Linnavuori until 2030.
The Finnish defence group will later use the site to maintain, repair, overhaul and upgrade the engines. Sustainment work is planned to continue throughout the operational life of Finland’s F-35 fleet.
The companies signed a framework contract covering those activities in 2024. The agreement is expected to support about 50 direct jobs at Patria between 2025 and 2030.
“Patria’s part of the F-35 programme is progressing according to plan and has now entered full-scale production,” said Petri Hepola, Chief Programme Officer for F-35 at Patria. “The completion of the first F135 engine is a significant milestone and a strong start for F135 engine assembly in Finland.”
“Patria is also strengthening its role as part of the F-35 production and sustainment ecosystem,” said retired Colonel Henrik Elo, F-35 Programme Director for the Finnish Air Force. “The production line will be adapted for engine maintenance activities, and the expertise being built today will strongly support the domestic security of supply for our F-35 fleet in the future.”
“Assembly of Finland’s first F135 engine marks an important milestone in strengthening the global F-35 sustainment network and expanding propulsion capability in Finland,” said Jill Albertelli, President of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. “This capability will support the readiness and resilience of Finland’s F-35 fleet while strengthening the collective defence of Finland and its NATO allies.”
Finland’s first F-35A fighters are scheduled to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in autumn 2026. The Linnavuori operation will give Finland domestic engine support as the aircraft enter service and throughout the fleet’s lifecycle.
