Patria Group Announces Completion Of F-35 Engine Assembly & Maintenance Facility
Finland’s Patria Group announced October 14, that its assembly and maintenance facility for F-35 fighter jet engines has been completed on schedule, with the company taking over ownership of the facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, from builders Defence Properties Finland.
The facility will be used for assembly of F135 engines for the Finnish Air Force’s F-35As as part of Finnish industrial participation in the F-35 program, and will be converted to support engine maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade operations from 2030, supporting engine maintenance through the entire life cycle of Finland’s F-35A fleet.
“The construction project successfully passed all security inspections by the United States. Strict security regulations must be observed throughout the supply chain, and both contractors and designers performed well in this demanding project. Thanks to close and effective cooperation between all parties, we were able to keep to the schedule precisely,” said Matias Warsta, CEO of Defence Properties Finland, which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure and properties required for Finland’s F-35 fighters.
Patria will also build F-35 forward fuselage sections and landing gear bay doors from 2026, with the components to be used both in the F-35As built for Finland, and other F-35s built for operators around the world.
“The purpose of the industrial participation led by the Finnish Ministry of Defence is to secure domestic security of supply and, at the same time, create employment. The production of F-35 components in Linnavuori is a significant and concrete step forward in the defence and security cooperation between Finland and the United States. It is also a recognition of Finnish expertise, which is trusted even in the most demanding projects. The F-35 will become the backbone of air defence for the entire democratic world, and with Linnavuori, an important centre of expertise will be established in Finland,” said the Minister of Defence for Finland Antti Häkkänen.
“Cooperation between the parties during the Linnavuori construction project has been smooth. It’s great to see the results of our joint efforts, which help to build new capabilities for F-35 programme. The production facilities in Linnavuori and the growing Patria team play a key role in this and in the upcoming F135 engine assembly and maintenance work,” said Petri Hepola, Patria’s Chief Program Officer, F-35.