Through an official statement issued earlier this week, Patria announced that the construction of the new engine center in Nokia, designed to support Finland’s future F-35A fighter jets, is progressing as planned and is nearing completion in the European autumn of this year. Notably, it was reported that construction work on one of the facility’s main areas was recently completed, with a corresponding ceremony held on March 14, 2025.
Specifically, once fully completed, Patria’s new facilities will enable Helsinki to conduct assembly and maintenance work on Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engines throughout the stealth fighter’s operational lifespan in the Finnish Air Force. Until then, the facilities remain under the management of Puolustuskiinteistöt, the organization responsible for overseeing the Finnish Defense Administration’s properties.
Bringing in some official statements, Finland’s Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen, emphasized: “The maintenance and support capability for the F135 engines being built in Linnavuori, Nokia, and the resulting expertise in Finland strengthen the military security of supply for the F-35 system. Developing domestic maintenance capabilities helps ensure that the Finnish Air Force’s F-35 fighter engines remain operational under all conditions.”
Meanwhile, Petri Hepola, currently serving as the F-35 program director at Patria, stated: “The cooperation in the Linnavuori construction project between all parties has been smooth, and we are progressing as planned. At Patria, we are pleased and proud to jointly build and develop new F-35 capabilities, something we celebrate with today’s ceremony.”
It is worth noting that in mid-2024, Patria and Pratt & Whitney signed an agreement allowing this project to move forward, making it one of the most significant achievements in Finland’s defense industry. Specifically, Patria obtained a license to assemble F135 engines from the current year until 2030, after which it will be authorized to carry out repair, assessment, and upgrade work on the units.
Finally, it should be mentioned that Finland acquired a total of 64 U.S.-made F-35A stealth fighters, selecting this aircraft model to replace the country’s aging F/A-18 Hornets. With Lockheed Martin working to deliver the first units this year, Finland has not only advanced in the construction of Patria’s facilities but has also moved forward with the procurement of various types of weaponry to equip its new fighters. A notable example is the confirmed purchase of 200 JASSM-ER cruise missiles, a deal approved by the U.S. for a total of $12.5 billion.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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