The first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for the Finnish Air Force has entered the final stage of assembly at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft, identified as MF-01 and set to be registered as JF-501, has completed its fuselage and wing assembly. The next steps will involve the integration of the tail section, engine, and additional systems.

The aircraft is expected to roll out later in 2025 before being transferred to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Once there, it will serve as a training platform for Finnish Air Force personnel. Finland will become the second country after Poland to utilize this U.S.-based training centre.

Finland finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States in February 2022 to acquire 64 F-35A aircraft. Deliveries of the Block 4 configuration are scheduled to take place between 2025 and 2030.

The F-35A fleet will replace Finland’s current Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters, which have been in service since the 1990s. In addition to the aircraft acquisition, the deal includes industrial cooperation, enabling Finnish companies to participate in the F-35 global supply chain.