Finnish Patria Group has partnered with Pratt & Whitney to produce F-35 fighters’ F135 turbofan engines in Finland. A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that covers the contractual framework for F135 engine production and sustainment projects in Finland by Patria was signed today. The agreement covers the assembly of F135 engines and components between 2025-2030, followed by a transition to Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) operations starting in 2030. F135 turbofan engines power the F-35 fighter jets with a maximum of 28000 lbf of military and 42000 lbf of afterburner thrust due to high operating temperatures. Additionally, Patria will build another site to assemble F-35 Block 4 fighter jets, including enhancements like expanded internal weapon bays, new weapons, and EW systems. U.S. investment in northern Europe is not new.
The Pentagon selected the Netherlands as the F135 MRO&U European regional depot in late 2014 under the F-35’s Global Support System. Turkiye’s 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, located in Eskişehir, was planned to provide maintenance for these engines in the F-35 JSF programme. As a result of the one-sided decision of the U.S. to remove Turkiye from the programme, the plans for F135 turbofan maintenance and sustainment were cancelled. The capacity was transferred to Kongsberg’s Heavy Maintenance Facility in Norway.
