On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the press service of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, reported on social media the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole aircraft, intended for the training program for Finnish military personnel.
Photos: USAF, Lockheed Martin
“Congratulations to the Finnish Air Force on the arrival of their first F-35 Lightning II at Ebbing ANGB! This marks a significant milestone in the security partnership between the United States and Finland. Over the next two years, approximately 18 FINAF pilots will undergo extensive training, with the program expected to conclude by Sept. 2027,” states the Facebook announcement.
An F-35A aircraft in the latest Block 4 version, equipped with the Technical Refresh 3 (TR3) configuration, was redeployed to Ebbing. The aircraft has manufacturer serial number MF-1 and serial number JF-501, is in the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, and was registered with the Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat) as of January 8, 2026.
Its construction began on October 28, 2024 (with production of the first components having started in the second half of 2023). Final assembly commenced on June 26, 2025, and was completed on October 29, after which the aircraft awaited application of its final paint scheme and national markings. The maiden flight took place on December 8, and the official handover (roll-out) to the customer occurred on December 16.
A total of the first 8 of the 64 aircraft ordered by the government in Helsinki will be delivered to Ebbing. Toward the end of 2026, the first aircraft, starting with the 9th example, will begin to be transferred to Rovaniemi Air Base in Lapland.
Earlier, in January 2025, five U.S. F-35A pilots from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona visited the Finnish base at Pirkkala to share their experience. This marked a prelude to joint exercises. Subsequently, in the fall, the first Finnish pilots arrived at Ebbing to familiarize themselves with the infrastructure.
Currently, eight Polish F-35A Husarz aircraft are stationed at Ebbing. This year, training for F-35 pilots from Germany (in the spring) and Singapore (in the fall) is expected to begin, followed later by pilots from Switzerland, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
F-35A for Finland
The F-35A aircraft will replace 60 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets under the HX program (down from the original 62; the first was retired on April 26, 2024, and another crashed on May 7 last year).
The aircraft will be armed with already ordered extended-range AGM-88G AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles (150 units), AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER cruise missiles (200 units), and the latest upgraded radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missiles AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM (403 units). In addition, the government in Helsinki has received approval to acquire up to 500 GBU-53/B SDB II bombs, 190 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, 148 AGM-154C-1 JSOW-C1 glide munitions, 120 BLU-117 general-purpose bombs, 32 BLU-109 general-purpose bombs, and 150 BLU-111 general-purpose bombs. Integration with the JSM (Joint Strike Missile) cruise missile is also planned.
Finland is also interested in a joint procurement, together with Sweden and Denmark, of Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and command aircraft, as well as in joining the fleet of Airbus A330-200 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) multirole transport and tanker aircraft under the NATO MMF (Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet) initiative. Finnish “Lightnings” are expected to become part of a future integrated Nordic air force.
Components for Finnish aircraft are produced in several user countries under the international F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, but in the coming years components for additional users will also be manufactured in Finland under the HX program offset agreement:
- 400 forward fuselage sections at the Patria Halli facility in Jämsä, in the Central Finland region, which opened on June 13, 2025 — deliveries from 2030;
- Landing gear doors (main and nose), also at Patria Halli, under a contract dated March 27, 2024;
- Components for Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engines at Nokia’s Linnavuori site, which will later also provide in-service support under an agreement dated March 17, 2025.
Finland’s very first F-35A, #JF501, arrived at Ebbing ANGB in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 20 January. This spring, the first Finnish Joint Fighters (JF) will enter service at the base as part of the practical phase of the F-35 initial training. 🇫🇮🇺🇸#ilmavoimat #F35programme #F35 pic.twitter.com/rlireQmqZo
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) January 20, 2026
Operational momentum in action. @FinnishAirForce's first F-35A arrives at @EbbingANGB, Arkansas, kicking off comprehensive pilot and maintainer training, further strengthening interoperability and deterrence. 🇫🇮✈️ pic.twitter.com/xzFvQUXnoO
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) January 20, 2026
See also: