Finland has officially completed its new F135 engine assembly and maintenance center in Linnavuori, marking a key milestone ahead of the country’s first F-35A deliveries in late 2026. The facility enhances Finland’s role within NATO’s air defense structure while boosting logistics resilience for fifth-generation aircraft operating in the Arctic.
Constructed under the supervision of Defence Properties Finland, the site meets the stringent safety and security requirements set by Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. F-35 program. Delivered on schedule to Patria, the plant will play a vital role in sustaining Finland’s future F-35 fleet, based at Rovaniemi Air Base.
Between 2025 and 2030, the Linnavuori facility will focus on F135 engine assembly and component production, transitioning to full maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations after 2030. This evolution will position Patria as a strategic partner in the regional sustainment of the F-35, ensuring Finland can maintain operational independence throughout the aircraft’s life cycle.
The project stems from Finland’s €9.4 billion HX Fighter Program, finalized in 2021. A follow-up agreement signed with Pratt & Whitney in 2024 secured local assembly capacity and integrated Finland into the multinational logistics network that supports global F-35 readiness. The facility’s construction was carried out under strict U.S. oversight and passed all required security inspections.
Linnavuori now complements existing European F135 hubs in Woensdrecht (Netherlands) and Rygge (Norway), adding critical redundancy and support for Arctic and Baltic missions. The center’s phased approach mirrors lessons learned from allied facilities, but with a faster route to full operational capability.
Strategically, the new facility expands NATO’s technical footprint across its northern frontier. Following Finland’s accession to the Alliance, Linnavuori serves as a northern anchor for F-35 engine sustainment, bolstering rapid deployment and deterrence capabilities in the High North. It also strengthens interoperability with Nordic and Baltic F-35 operators, reinforcing collective airpower in the region.
Economically, the project is expected to generate around 50 skilled jobs during the assembly phase. While the specific construction budget remains undisclosed, it forms part of Finland’s broader defense infrastructure investments linked to the HX program.
With the Linnavuori F135 facility now operational, Finland gains full capacity to assemble and maintain the engines that power its next-generation fighter fleet. The milestone marks not just industrial readiness but Finland’s emergence as a trusted contributor to NATO’s most advanced defense network, ensuring greater sovereignty and strategic resilience in Europe’s increasingly contested northern skies.
