Patria is building new production facilities in Jämsä Halli, where the production and assembly of structures for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighters will begin. Production will start in early 2026.
Patria will manufacture a total of 400 forward fuselages and landing gear door sets for F-35 fighters from 2026 to 2040.
“For forward fuselages, assembly will be the first of its kind outside the United States,” says Petri Hepola, Patria’s F-35 Chief Program Officer.
From Finland, the structural components will be shipped to the US to the final assembly line of Lockheed Martin.
Components from Patria for global deliveries
The first structural components manufactured by Patria will be used in the F-35 fighters ordered by Finland, of which the Finnish Air Force has decided to purchase 64 to replace the Hornet fighters.
In the future, Patria will also manufacture forward fuselages and landing gear doors for F-35 fighters purchased by other countries. The production projects give Patria access to the global supply chain for the F-35.
According to Hepola, the production capacity for structural components can be increased and scaled up based on orders.
Along with component manufacturing, Patria will also begin to assemble, maintain and overhaulthe Pratt&Whitney F135 engines used in F-35s. This will take place in Linnavuori, Nokia, where the General Electric engines for Hornet fighters were also assembled in the 1990s.
Industrial participation ensures security of supply
The manufacture of structural components for F-35s and the assembly and maintenance of engines in Finland are part of an industrial participation agreement between the Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin and Pratt&Whitney.
Source: Patria Magazine.