Main Cole “Laser” Kingsbery, USAF, flew airframe JF-501 to Ebbing ANGB, Arkansas the place it is going to be used to coach Finnish personnel forward of F-35s arriving in Finland later in 2026.
Simply over a month after the primary F-35A Lightning II for the Finnish Air Drive took to the skies, the identical airframe has kicked off an effort that may see 150 members of the Finnish Air Drive – 20 pilots, 80 upkeep technicians, and 50 different personnel – obtain coaching on the sort from skilled U.S. Air Drive instructors from the 57th Fighter Squadron (FS). Army personnel from Poland, Germany, Switzerland and Singapore are already with the 57th FS at Ebbing for related coaching.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome our Finnish companions to Ebbing,” mentioned Col. Nicholas “Matrix” Ihde, Commander of the eighty fifth Fighter Group, which is the father or mother unit of the 57th FS. “This program is about extra than simply coaching; it’s about constructing foundational relationships and enhancing our collective deterrence. Having the Finnish pilots practice right here, alongside our forces, strengthens interoperability and sends a robust message of unity.”
Finland’s very first F-35A, #JF501, arrived at Ebbing ANGB in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 20 January. This spring, the primary Finnish Joint Fighters (JF) will enter service on the base as a part of the sensible section of the F-35 preliminary coaching. 🇫🇮🇺🇸#ilmavoimat #F35programme #F35 pic.twitter.com/rlireQmqZo
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) January 20, 2026
Eight F-35As finally destined for Finland will stay within the U.S. to help this ongoing coaching programme, which is scheduled to attract to a detailed in early 2028. Airframes JF-501 to JF-508 will then be ferried throughout the Atlantic to hitch plane (JF-509 onwards) already delivered on to the nation. These deliveries to Finland are because of start in late 2026.
“This can be a historic day for the Finnish Air Drive,” mentioned Col. Elonheimo, chief of the Overseas Liaison Workplace of the Finnish F-35 Programme, who welcomed the plane’s arrival in individual. “Taking supply of our first F-35 and starting our coaching right here at Ebbing is a crucial step in enhancing interoperability and strengthening our nation’s deterrence and protection capabilities. We’re grateful to our American companions for his or her excellent help and hospitality. This US-led worldwide F-35 joint coaching will forge a stronger-than-ever partnership and guarantee our pilots and maintainers are masters of this distinctive plane, safeguarding our sovereignty for many years to return.”
Preliminary coaching for Finnish personnel commenced in September 2025 at Eglin Air Drive Base, Florida. Eglin AFB homes the F-35 Educational Coaching Heart, the place each pilots and upkeep crews obtain type-specific coaching. Pilot coaching will start from February 2026.
ICYMI: Finland’s first F-35 didn’t simply roll out — it flew. ⚡
The plane efficiently accomplished its first flight earlier this month. 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/zBRYABvIQK
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) December 31, 2025
Though nominally assigned to a USAF squadron, the possession of JF-501 was totally transferred to Finland on Dec. 23, 2025 and formally joined Finland’s army plane register on Jan. 8, 2026. As is normal follow, every airframe will likely be inspected for airworthiness by Finnish personnel and the sort as a complete will likely be licensed by Finland’s Army Aviation Authority.
Finland’s F-35 Order
Finland introduced its order for the F-35A Lightning II in December 2021, beating out sturdy competitors from the Eurofighter Storm, Dassault Rafale, Saab Gripen, and a joint supply by Boeing of F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.
64 F-35As will substitute Finland’s present fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets, which have been ordered in 1992. The preliminary Hornet order was additionally for 64 airframes, which signifies that, in contrast to many different nations procuring the F-35, Finland is aiming for a one-for-one substitute of legacy plane.
Lapland Air Wing is getting ready to obtain Finland’s first F-35 fighter jets by the tip of 2026. The amenities and constructions being constructed at Rovaniemi Air Base will allow the F-35 system for use in accordance with the Finnish Air Drive’s operational rules. pic.twitter.com/0iVBr02eUa
— Lapin lennosto – Lapland Air Wing (@Laplsto) October 4, 2024
The primary Finnish F-35 unit will likely be HävLLv 11 (11 Squadron) of the Lapland Air Wing, based mostly at Rovaniemi Airport. The Kuopio Airport based mostly Karelia Air Wing in southeast Finland will then obtain its jets from 2028. Preliminary working functionality (IOC) is anticipated to be declared in 2027, with full working functionality (FOC) scheduled to be declared alongside the withdrawal of the Hornet in 2030.
Now a part of NATO and participating within the alliance’s air policing missions each at residence and in different nations, Finland’s F-35s will seemingly see ‘frontline’ use very quickly after supply. As a nation bordering Russia and the Baltic Sea, Finland is optimally situated to observe, shadow, and if needed, intercept Russian plane heading in the direction of NATO airspace.
The Finnish Air Drive fighter detachment has began Fast Response Alert obligation at Keflavík Air Base in Iceland.
🇫🇮 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets have taken on the #NATO 🇮🇸 Air Policing mission for the primary time as a member of the Alliance.#ilmavoimat #WeAreNATO @NATO_AIRCOM pic.twitter.com/QCDxdv8Pb4
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) February 3, 2025
For air defence missions, Finland’s F-35s will be capable to utilise the Finnish Air Drive’s current shares of AIM-9X Sidewinders in addition to newly contracted AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs.
