Finland progresses new F-35 engine support facility

Finland is building a new facility to provide MRO support for the F135 powerplant under offset agreements following its procurement of the F-35. Pictured here is an F135 engine in a test rig. (Pratt & Whitney)

Finland is progressing the build of a new facility to support the engines of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat aircraft, announcing the topping-out ceremony for the construction project on 17 March.

The Patria facility in Linnavuori, near the town of Nokia in the south of Finland, is scheduled to begin maintenance of Pratt & Whitney F135 powerplants for the F-35's international customer base from the end of the third quarter (Q3) of 2025.

“The construction of the assembly and maintenance facilities for F-35 fighter jet engines in Nokia's Linnavuori has progressed on schedule, and the topping-out ceremony for the construction project was held on 14 March,” Patria said, adding, “The production facilities will initially serve as assembly facilities for the engines and later as maintenance facilities for the engines of the F-35 fighters. Maintenance activities will continue in Nokia throughout the life cycle of Finland's F-35 fleet.”

This new site is a first for Finland, which has no other similar defence aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for engines. Patria signed an agreement in 2024 with Pratt & Whitney that covers the assembly of F135 engines and components between 2025 and 2030, followed by a transition to F135 engine MRO and upgrade (MRO&U) operations, beginning in 2030.

The engine MRO facility is being constructed as part of Finland's industrial co-operation of the F-35, following the Nordic country's decision to acquire 64 F-35A aircraft to replace its 55 Boeing F/A-18Cs and seven F/A-18D Hornet fighters under the HX fighter replacement competition.