Finnish Air Force Colonel (ret.) and F-35 project manager, Henrik Elo, visited our Fort Worth, TX, Lockheed Martin facility to sign the bulkhead of Finland's first F-35.
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The production of Finland’s first F-35 is underway, kicked off by a visit from a delegation from Finland to our Fort Worth, TX, factory this week.
The Finnish government selected the F-35 as the winner of the HX Program on December 10, 2021, with their program of record calling for 64 F-35As. The most advanced fighter jet in the world will be supported by a comprehensive training program and a robust sustainment solution aligned to Finnish security of supply requirements. With a combination of stealth, sensor fusion and unmatched situational awareness, the F-35 will ensure Finland’s airspace for decades to come.
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The next step in the production process is the assembly of the jet's four major components – the forward fuselage, center fuselage, wing assembly and aft section – using the Electronic Mate and Alignment System (EMAS). This advanced system, which utilizes lasers and sensors, accurately joins the components together, moving the jet into the final stages of assembly.
Finland is set to celebrate the factory roll-out of its first F-35 next year.
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