Finland publicly presented its first F-35A multirole fighter, designated JF-501, during an official rollout ceremony held on December 16 at Lockheed Martin’s factory in Fort Worth, Texas.
The aircraft completed its final assembly at the U.S. manufacturer’s facilities and was showcased at an event attended by civilian and military authorities from Finland and the United States.
Among the guests were Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force Major General Timo Herranen, and F-35 Program Director Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo.
The ceremony was hosted by Greg Ulmer, President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and brought together around 200 participants, including representatives from the defense industry, government officials, and members of the press.
+ India Displays YIHA-III Kamikaze Drone Intercepted in Operation Against Pakistan
After the event, Major General Timo Herranen highlighted the importance of the moment for the country’s military aviation. According to him, the program has reached a strategic milestone, and the Finnish Air Force expects to begin operations with the F-35 starting next year.
Construction of JF-501 began in 2023. In October 2024, production progress was marked by a forward fuselage signing ceremony. In September 2025, the aircraft received its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. The following month, final assembly was completed, and in November the fighter received its final finishes, including paint and stealth coating.
Finland’s first F-35A rolled off the assembly line in October and conducted its maiden flight on December 8 as part of Lockheed Martin’s factory test campaign. After completing ground and flight tests conducted by the manufacturer, the aircraft will undergo additional evaluations carried out by the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Only after approval in these trials will the fighter be officially transferred to Finnish ownership.
In early 2026, JF-501 will be deployed to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in the state of Arkansas, where the first F-35As will be inducted into Finnish Air Force service as part of initial operational training. Once this training phase in the United States is completed, the aircraft and the other fighters used in the program will be transferred to Finland, marking the start of the definitive introduction of the F-35 into the country’s air defense.
Source and images: Ilmavoimat | X @FinnishAirForce | Lockheed Martin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
