On Thursday 1 October 2026, President of the Republic of Finland, Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces Alexander Stubb attended the arrival ceremony of the Finnish Air Force’s new F-35 fighters in Rovaniemi.
The first two F-35 fighter jets arrived at the Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi from the United States on 18 September. At Thursday’s ceremony, the Finnish Air Force formally presented its new F-35 multirole fighters.
In his speech, President Stubb praised the excellent cooperation between Finland and the United States throughout the F-35 procurement process. According to the President, the introduction of the F-35 fleet in Finland marks a historic milestone following years of preparation.
“It is a pleasure to be here in Rovaniemi today to mark the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations between Finland and the United States, as well as for the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Air Force,” said President Stubb.
The F-35 system will significantly enhance Finland’s defence capability and the combat capability of the Finnish Air Force. It brings a new generation of capabilities that will generate and share data across the entire defence system.
“The new F-35 fighters will strengthen Finland’s defence capability for decades to come,” President Stubb said.
