First U.S. F-35A Fighter Delivered to Finland as FA-18 CD jet Phase-Out Begins.

Finland has officially taken delivery of its first F-35A multirole fighter, designated JF-501, according to a Finnish Air Force announcement on January 20, 2026. The milestone signals the start of Helsinki’s transition from legacy F/A-18 Hornets to fifth-generation air combat capability under the Joint Fighter program.

The Finnish Air Force confirmed Tuesday that its first F-35A Lightning II has arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, following a ferry flight from Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft, tail number JF-501, represents the first tangible step in Finland’s long-planned modernization of its combat aviation fleet, replacing aging Hornets with a stealth-capable platform designed for high-threat environments and NATO-integrated operations.
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The Finnish Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on January 20, 2026. (Picture source: US DoD)

The arrival of JF-501 comes just weeks after the aircraft was formally unveiled during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant, attended by around 200 invited representatives from Finnish and U.S. defense administrations, industry, and media. Among those present were Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Air Force Commander Major General Timo Herranen, and Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo, Director of the Finnish F-35 Programme, with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Greg Ulmer hosting the event. The ceremony symbolized Finland’s transition from procurement planning into the execution phase of its largest defense acquisition following the 2021 decision to procure 64 F-35A fighters.

The F-35A Lightning II is the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter family and serves as the flagship fifth-generation fighter of the U.S. Air Force. Designed as a true multirole platform, it combines low-observable shaping, internal weapons carriage, and advanced sensor fusion to conduct air superiority, precision strike, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and suppression of enemy air defense missions in contested environments. Powered by the Pratt and Whitney F135-PW-100 engine generating up to 43,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 1.6, operate above 50,000 feet, and achieve a combat radius of approximately 2,200 kilometers using internal fuel.

Central to the F-35A’s combat effectiveness is its integrated avionics architecture. The AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Distributed Aperture System, and Electro-Optical Targeting System provide continuous 360-degree situational awareness, while sensor fusion presents the pilot with a unified tactical picture via the helmet-mounted display system. The aircraft’s electronic warfare suite enables both self-protection and active contribution to joint operations, allowing it to detect, classify, and counter advanced threats while sharing targeting and battlespace data in real time with allied air, land, sea, space, and cyber forces.

Behind the symbolic handover lies a multi-year production effort that began in 2023, when manufacturing activities for JF-501 commenced at Fort Worth. Key milestones included a forward fuselage signing event in October 2024, installation of the F135 engine in September 2025, and completion of final assembly and low-observable surface treatments in October and November 2025. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight on December 8, 2025, before progressing through factory and U.S. government acceptance testing ahead of transfer to Finnish ownership.

Although delivered, JF-501 will initially remain in the United States as part of a structured training pipeline. Finnish pilots, maintainers, and systems specialists will first complete academic and simulator training at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before transitioning to practical instruction at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. The first eight Finnish Joint Fighters, numbered JF-501 through JF-508, will be based at Ebbing to support the training of approximately 150 Finnish personnel.

Finland’s program of record foresees a fleet of 64 F-35As, described by defense officials as the largest such fleet in northern Europe. The first aircraft is planned to arrive in Finland during 2026, with initial operational capability targeted by the end of 2027 and full operational capability planned by 2030, coinciding with the retirement of the F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet. Designated JF for Joint Fighter, the aircraft will form the backbone of Finland’s combat airpower from 2031 onward.

As JF-501 begins its role in training operations at Ebbing, the aircraft stands as both a technical milestone and a strategic signal. Its delivery confirms that Finland’s F-35 Programme has moved decisively from contract to execution, anchoring a long-term transformation of national defense capability and allied interoperability in Northern Europe.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.