Patria has completed assembly of Finland’s first F135 fighter engine at its new facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, marking the start of F135 engine production in Finland.
Patria will assemble F135 engines for the Finnish Defence Forces and later provide maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) services throughout the lifecycle of Finland’s F-35 fleet.
Patria and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, agreed to establish F135 final assembly in Finland in February 2026. Production is planned to continue through 2030, after which the Linnavuori facility will transition to engine maintenance and sustainment activities.
“Patria’s part of the F-35 programme is progressing according to plan and has now entered full-scale production. The completion of the first F135 engine is a significant milestone and a strong start for F135 engine assembly in Finland. It demonstrates the successful cooperation between Patria, Pratt & Whitney, the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Ministry of Defence, strengthening Finland’s security of supply and deepening Patria’s role in the global F-35 supply chain,” says Petri Hepola, Chief Program Officer, F-35 at Patria.
The production line is designed to support the future transition to engine maintenance activities. Patria and Pratt & Whitney signed a frame contract in 2024 covering MRO&U operations for F135 engines.
“This is a significant milestone. The fact that our Joint Fighter fleet will be equipped with engines assembled in Finland is a clear demonstration of the close cooperation between the Finnish and US defence administrations and industries. At the same time, it reflects the confidence placed in the capabilities of Finnish industry. Patria is also strengthening its role as part of the F-35 production and sustainment ecosystem. 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,” said Colonel (ret.)Henrik Elo, F-35 Program Director of the Finnish Air Force.
“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,” highlighted 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.”
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The MRO&U programme is expected to directly employ approximately 50 people at Patria between 2025 and 2030. The capability will support Finland’s domestic engine sustainment requirements as F-35A fighters enter service.
Finland’s first F-35A aircraft are scheduled to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in autumn 2026, establishing the operational fleet that will eventually be supported by the Finnish F135 maintenance capability.
