The Finnish fighter programme is a significant opportunity for Patria, which has been actively involved in the preparation work supporting the Ministry of Defence and the Finnish Defence Forces. Patria maintains the current fighter fleet and has special skills and unique know-how to support Finland’s overall security of supply through its long history.
“Patria has been a neutral strategic partner for the Finnish Defence Forces in the programme. The main target has been to ensure national security of supply and sustainment of the future fighter fleet. This decision will also open Patria a significant access to the global F-35 supply chain,” says Petri Hepola, Head of Patria’s HX programme.
The F-35’s industrial cooperation solution in Finland creates strong competences via security of supply and is also important at level of national economy. The main industrial cooperation projects for Patria are large-scale manufacturing of F-35 front fuselages in Finland also for other users and further production of structural components. In addition, F-35 team has offered an engine final assembly for the Finnish Air Force fleet. On top of previous repair capabilities of numerous components across a range of aircraft systems will be built in Finland. The employment effect of industrial participation will be 4500 person-years directly and 1500 indirectly. The industrial participation contract will be signed by the Ministry of Defence as well as Lockheed Martin and the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
“The project will have a significant employment impact — not only for Patria, but nationally as well. Cooperation with Lockheed Martin certainly opens a lot of new opportunities for the Finnish companies. Different partnerships will ensure a cost-effective and extensive knowledge base for Finland,” says Esa Rautalinko President and CEO of Patria Group.
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