Patria begins F135 engine final assembly in Finland

Patria and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, have signed an agreement covering final assembly in Finland of the first F135 engines for the F-35 fighter.

Production has begun and is scheduled to continue until 2030 at Patria’s new assembly and maintenance facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, the company said.

As a strategic partner to the Finnish Defence Forces, Patria will initially assemble the F135 engines and, at a later stage, provide maintenance and repair. Finland’s first F-35A aircraft are due to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi at the end of 2026.

- It is inspiring to see our joint efforts materialise, not only in building new capabilities for the F-35 programme, but also in taking the first concrete steps towards F135 production at the new facility by Patria’s experts, said Petri Hepola, Patria’s chief programme officer for F-35.

64 aircraft

André McMillian, vice-president for sustainment operations at Pratt & Whitney, said that Patria’s capabilities will strengthen the F135 engine sustainment network and the collective defence of Finland and its Nato allies.

- This agreement ensures that Patria-assembled engines will power Finland’s F-35 fleet for decades to come.

In 2024, Patria and Pratt & Whitney signed a framework contract covering maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) services for the F135. 

The agreement is expected to create around 50 direct jobs at Patria between 2025 and 2030.

Finland have ordred 64 F-35A in a contract valued 10bn euro.

The first F-35A (JF-501) was delivered in Decemver 2025 and is based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, for pilot and technician training.