Finland welcomes its first F-35s with one of the best videos about this fighter jet

On October 1, the Finnish Air Force welcomed its first two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters.

Finland shows Spanish EF-18 fighter jets operating from a road in Karelia
Spanish EF-18 fighter jets and an F-35B with tiger stripes operating on roads in Finland

The two aircraft, bearing tail numbers JF-510 and JF-512, landed at Rovaniemi Air Base at 17:45 on September 18, but the official welcome ceremony took place today at the airport in that city—the capital of the Lapland province and known worldwide as the home of Santa Claus. This ceremony featured the first F-35 flight by a Finnish pilot within Finnish territory—Lieutenant Colonel Jaakko Sointu—a flight witnessed by guests and the media.

The Finnish Armed Forces have welcomed this fighter jet with the video shown above (which was screened at the event in Rovaniemi); it opens with shots of U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-35As flying alongside Finnish F/A-18Cs. It is one of the best videos ever released featuring the F-35, largely thanks to the team behind it: the Finnish Defence Forces' Combat Camera (COMCAM) unit is made up of true artists who produce outstanding videos—something I have mentioned here on several occasions.

The Finnish Air Force has announced that it expects to keep the F-35s in service well into the 2060s. The welcoming ceremony for this new aircraft was attended by the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb; Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen; Finnish Air Force Commander Major General Timo Herranen; U.S. Ambassador to Finland Howard W. Brodie; F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Executive Officer Lieutenant General Gregory Masiello (U.S. Marine Corps); and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Orlando Sanchez Jr.

The event was also attended by military personnel from the Lapland Air Wing, based in Rovaniemi. At this festive gathering, they were accompanied by the Finnish Air Force Big Band, along with violinist Linda Lampenius (known as Linda Brava) and singer Pete Parkkonen.

Finland has acquired 64 F-35A aircraft for a total of €8.378 billion. These new jets will replace the Finnish Air Force's fleet of 64 F-18C/D Hornets—veteran fighters that have earned the high regard of the country's pilots. Today, one of the Finnish Hornets performed a demonstration in Rovaniemi during the event welcoming its successor. Finnish F/A-18 pilots have consistently demonstrated exceptional skill at every airshow they have attended.

The Finnish Air Force has highlighted that Europe will soon possess more than 700 fifth-generation fighter jets, and has noted the versatility of the F-35's sensors and weapon systems, which will help enhance existing capabilities for protecting Finnish airspace and supporting operations by other branches of the Defence Forces.

Major General Timo Herranen noted: "The F-35 was chosen because it is designed for an environment like ours. Flying the F-35, our pilots can do the mission and come home to fly the next round. A fifth-generation aircraft that can see farther but not be seen, share information faster, strike accurately and survive longer is not a luxury here. It is a requirement"

The Finnish Air Force has announced that it expects new F-35 deliveries this autumn. The aircraft will reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in early 2028, "by which time the Lapland Air Wing will have introduced the F-35 into service and will operate the type exclusively. The Karelia Air Wing is scheduled to receive its first F-35s during 2028. Full operational capability (FOC) will be achieved by the end of 2030. Until then, the Finnish Air Force will operate the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35A Lightning II fleets in parallel."

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Photos: Ilmavoimat - Flygvapnet.