The first Finnish F-35 fighters will be put into service in Rovaniemi — 150 million euros will be spent on the construction of an air base in Lapland
The first American F-35 fighters from among the 64 that Finland has decided to purchase will arrive in 2026, Yle reports. They will be stationed at a new airbase in Lapland. Its construction will begin this year and will cost 150 million euros.
Vesa-Pekka Hiltunen (Vesa-Pekka Hiltunen)
The Lapland Air Base is preparing to be the first in Finland to receive a new generation of fighters. They will arrive in 2026.
On May 27, the Finnish Air Force announced a plan to deploy new Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters.
"We are very satisfied. We are proud to adopt new equipment. Jobs at the airbase in Lapland will surely attract many," rejoices the commander of the airbase in Lapland, Colonel Tuukka Karjalainen.
According to Karjalainen, one of the significant reasons for the deployment of fighters is the need for a new airbase in Rovaniemi — to replace the buildings of the 1970s. The choice was also based on proximity to Norway. Norway, a NATO member country, already uses such fighters.
"It is hoped that this will create opportunities for cooperation and facilitate the introduction of technology," says Tuukka Karjalainen.
To begin with, the airbase will receive from two to six new aircraft. Karelian Airbase will receive new aircraft after 2028. A total of 64 new fighters will be delivered, which will be distributed among these air bases.
Construction will begin in 2022
The current airbase in Rovaniemi will be prepared for new equipment in 2022.
"Auxiliary buildings, perhaps some fences and roads will be erected this year. The main construction will begin in the first half of 2023," says Karjalainen.
Modern roads, runways and new buildings are needed for new fighters.
What will the construction cost
According to Tuukka Karjalainen, the construction of an air base in Rovaniemi will take a little less than 150 million euros. In two years, the cost estimate has increased by several tens of millions of euros. Karjalainen considers stricter technical requirements and increased prices to be the reason.
"The impact of construction on the creation of new jobs will become clear later — but this effect will be significant in any case," says Karjalainen.
Now the airbase provides jobs for 450 people. The new equipment will slightly increase the number of employees.
Lapland will first abandon Hornet fighters
The Lapland Airbase will refuse to use Hornet fighters first in Finland, since it will not be easy to operate two different models of aircraft in Rovaniemi.
"We strive to ensure that in Rovaniemi we don't have to work with two types of equipment for too long," says Tuukka Karjalainen.
There is more space at the Karelian airbase to work with two types of fighters. Hornet fighters will be moved to the Karelian base, they will be abandoned no later than 2030.
Pilots, mechanics and maintenance personnel will be trained in the USA. According to Karjalainen, 18 pilots and about 50 technical specialists will go to study in the United States in 2025. Later they will train specialists in Finland.
Those on active military service will be allowed to work with the new fighters two years after their use by the personnel. The training of mechanics' assistants undergoing active military service should begin in 2027-2028.
New pilots will first be trained on Hornet fighters — and from 2028-2029 they will be trained to fly on the F-35.
The government decided to purchase American fighter jets in December last year. The deal cost about 8.4 billion euros, of which the fighters themselves cost 4.7 billion euros, and the missiles — 755 million euros.
