NATO Gains New F-35 Hub on Border With Putin’s Russia

Finland has built its first F-35 fighter jet engine as the NATO member strengthens its defenses along its border with Russia.

Finnish defense company Patria completed assembly of the country’s first F135 engine on September 3, marking a major step in Finland’s role in the F-35 program, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

The development comes as Finland continues to strengthen its military capabilities after joining NATO in 2023 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Finland has ordered 64 F-35A fighter jets from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin, with the first aircraft expected to arrive in Finland later this year.

The Nordic country shares a border of more than 800 miles with Russia, making its growing F-35 capability significant for NATO’s northern flank.

Newsweek contacted Patria and the Finnish Ministry of Defense via email Sunday for comment.

Finland Begins F-35 Engine Production

Patria’s first Finnish-assembled F135 engine is the first of a planned series of engines to be assembled in the country.

The company is expected to continue assembling F135 engines for Finland through 2030. It will also provide maintenance and overhaul services for the engines throughout the lifetime of the country’s F-35 fleet.

Patria’s involvement extends beyond the engines. The company is also manufacturing F-35 forward fuselages and other components as part of the wider international F-35 program.

The domestic production and maintenance capabilities are intended to strengthen Finland’s security of supply, giving the country greater control over the support of its new fighter fleet.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed with stealth capabilities, advanced sensors and networked operations.

Finland’s first F-35s are due to enter service with the Finnish Air Force as the country replaces its aging fleet of F/A-18 Hornets.

Finland Steps Up Civil Defense Preparations

The military buildup comes alongside efforts to strengthen Finland’s civilian preparedness.

More than 2,000 people recently participated in a major civil defense exercise in the Finnish city of Kuopio. The exercise was described as Europe’s largest civil defense exercise since World War II.

The scenario included cyberattacks, disruption to critical infrastructure and the threat of missile strikes.

Participants practiced responding to situations in which essential services such as electricity and water supplies could be disrupted, as well as moving people into underground shelters.

The exercise reflects Finland’s long-standing approach of preparing both its military and civilian population for a potential national crisis.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has added urgency to those preparations, particularly given Finland’s position directly on NATO’s eastern border.

What Is Happening in the Latest Ukraine Peace Talks?

Finland’s preparations are taking place as the latest diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on September 5. The meeting lasted more than three hours and was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to restart negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

The talks did not produce a major breakthrough, with significant disagreements remaining between Moscow and Kyiv over issues including territory and Ukraine’s future security arrangements.

The U.S. representatives were then expected to travel to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, meaning NATO members on Russia’s borders are continuing to monitor the security situation closely.

Why Is Finland Strengthening Its Defenses?

Finland’s F-35 program, domestic engine assembly and large-scale civil defense exercises form part of a broader effort to prepare for a more uncertain security environment.

The country has historically maintained a strong focus on national preparedness, including military conscription, large reserves and extensive civil defense infrastructure.

Its NATO membership has added another layer to that approach, placing Finland within the alliance’s collective defense system while also making its military capabilities an important part of NATO’s northern defenses.

The arrival of the F-35 will give Finland a more advanced fighter capability, while domestic industrial work on the aircraft and engines will help support the fleet over the long term.

For NATO, the developments mean Finland is not only adding advanced fighter jets to the alliance’s northern flank but is also building the industrial and civilian infrastructure needed to support its defense strategy.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Cristina Diciu.