A state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the assembly and maintenance of F-35 fighter jet engines has been officially completed in Linnavuori, Nokia, Finland. Constructed by Defence Properties Finland, the complex has now been handed over to the defence company Patria, which will operate the site.
As the strategic partner for the Finnish Defence Forces, Patria’s role at the new facility will encompass the assembly, maintenance, and servicing of the F135 engines that power the F-35 aircraft. The site will initially focus on assembling the engines before transitioning to a full-scale maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) center. This ensures that maintenance operations for Finland’s F-35 fleet will be sustained domestically throughout the entire lifecycle of the aircraft.
The facility’s construction adhered to the stringent security and technical standards mandated by the international F-35 program and the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney. This project is a key component of the industrial cooperation linked to Finland’s F-35 procurement.
Finnish Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, emphasized the broader significance of the project. He stated that the industrial participation, led by the Ministry of Defence, is crucial for securing Finland’s domestic defence supply chain and generating employment. He described the Linnavuori facility as a major advancement in Finnish-American defence cooperation and a testament to trusted Finnish expertise. “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,” Häkkänen said.
Matias Warsta, CEO of Defence Properties Finland, confirmed that the project passed all U.S. security inspections and was delivered on schedule, attributing this success to effective collaboration with contractors and designers.
Petri Hepola, Patria’s Chief Program Officer for the F-35, highlighted the smooth cooperation that made the facility possible. He noted that the Linnavuori site and the growing Patria team are key to building new capabilities for the F-35 program.
Under a 2024 agreement with Pratt & Whitney, Patria will begin assembling F135 engines and components from 2025 through 2030. The subsequent shift to full MRO&U operations is set to begin in 2030. This long-term project is expected to create approximately 50 direct jobs at Patria during the initial assembly phase. In addition to the production halls, the Linnavuori area has been enhanced with new infrastructure and transport routes to support the high-security facility.
