The first 5th generation combat jets of the Finnish Air Force landed in Finland on 18 September 2026. Two Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning IIs touched down on Rovaniemi Air Base in the far north, where they were flown to by US pilots. They were escorted by two Finnish Air Force F/A-18s, the current combat jet of the force.
Finland already owns eight other F-35s. Finnish pilots fly them for training purposes from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. Training of ground personnel still has to commence in Rovaniemi, planned for later this year. Initial operation capabilities for the Finnish Air Force are expected by 2028.
Finland has ordered 64 F-35s. The aircraft carry registration codes starting with JF, for Joint Fighter. For now the ageing 55 McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18C Hornet single-seaters and 7 F/A-18D dual-seaters are the backbone of the Finnish Air Force. | © 2026 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Press photo: The first two Finnish Air Force F-35s arrive at Rovaniemi Air Base on 18 September 2026, flown by US pilots (Photo: Anne Torvinen/Ilmavoimat)