US ally assembles world’s most powerful operational fighter jet engine for the first time

Finland has completed the assembly of its first F135 fighter engine, marking a major milestone in the country’s participation in the F-35 program and establishing a new domestic capability for supporting the aircraft. The engine was assembled by Finnish defense company Patria at its new facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, where the company is responsible for assembling Finland’s F135 engines and will eventually carry out their maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Patria and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, agreed to begin final assembly of the engines in Finland in February 2026. F135 assembly begins in Finland The completion of the first engine was celebrated at an event at Patria’s Linnavuori facility on September 3, 2026. Production is now entering full-scale operations and is planned to continue through 2030. The facility will subsequently support the F135 fleet throughout the F-35’s service life in Finland, with Patria preparing to adapt the production line for Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) activities. “This is a significant milestone,” said Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo, F-35 Program Director of the Finnish Air Force. He said having engines assembled in Finland demonstrates the close cooperation between Finnish and US defense organizations and industries while strengthening Finland’s domestic security of supply. The capability is being established as Finland prepares to receive its first F-35A fighters. The country’s first aircraft are scheduled to arrive at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi in autumn 2026. Finland ordered 64 F-35A fighters, and domestic industrial participation is an important part of the country’s acquisition program. The new engine capability gives Finland a role not only in operating the aircraft but also in supporting its propulsion systems locally. From assembly to long-term engine support Patria and Pratt & Whitney signed a framework agreement for F135 MRO&U operations in 2024, laying the groundwork for Finland’s longer-term engine sustainment capability. The F135 is the propulsion system used by the F-35 family. It is built around a three-stream adaptive architecture designed to provide the thrust required for high-performance flight while supporting the aircraft’s thermal and electrical demands. For Finland, however, the significance of the new facility goes beyond assembling individual engines. Maintaining critical propulsion equipment domestically can reduce dependence on overseas industrial capacity when engines require major servicing, potentially improving fleet availability and resilience. Pratt & Whitney said the Finnish capability will expand the global F-35 sustainment network and strengthen propulsion support in Finland. The company is working with Patria as part of the broader international F135 support system. Patria estimates that the agreement will directly create approximately 50 jobs between 2025 and 2030. The company says the expertise developed through engine production will also support future maintenance and sustainment activities. Once operational, the Linnavuori facility is therefore expected to become a long-term part of Finland’s F-35 support infrastructure rather than simply a temporary assembly line. The development also gives Finland a deeper role in the global F-35 industrial ecosystem. As more F-35 operators establish local maintenance and component capabilities, the network is becoming increasingly distributed across partner nations.The timing is particularly significant for Finland as its first F-35As are due to arrive just as the country’s domestic F135 engine capability moves from preparation into production.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.