Finland Marks Arrival Of First Two F-35 Fighters At Rovaniemi Air Base With Ceremony
Finland held a ceremony for its first two F-35 jets, which arrived at Rovaniemi Air Base on Sept. 18. The air force outlined its timeline for operational capability and delivery of the 64 aircraft ordered in 2021.
Finland held a ceremony for the first two F-35 fifth-generation fighters it has received, hosted by the Finnish air force's Lapland Air Wing, Breaking Defense reported. The aircraft arrived at Rovaniemi Air Base on Sept. 18.
The Finnish air force said in a statement that "a new era began" for the Finnish defense forces with the arrival. It added that the fleet will form an integral part of the country's air defence well into the 2060s.
Helsinki decided to order 64 of the 5th generation stealth aircraft in 2021 in a deal valued at $9.4 billion. The jets will replace the aging US-made F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
Guests at the ceremony included Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Timo Herranen, US Ambassador to Finland Howard W. Brodie, F-35 Joint Program Office head Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Orlando Sanchez Jr. A Finnish pilot also flew an F-35 in a flight display.
According to the statement, Stubb's speech stressed the transatlantic partnership and the security of the Arctic region. The air force described the F-35 as being about power projection, security and situational awareness in the Arctic, and about maintaining security in northeastern Europe.
The Finnish statement also said that roughly 700 F-35 jets will be in Europe by the 2030s, and that the future will bring joint use and sharing of Lightning II fighters, personnel and weapons systems.