Based on a proposal by Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP), the government’s ministerial finance committee has approved a lease agreement between the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) and Defence Properties Finland, for the use of a parcel of land in Nokia.
The deal will allow Defence Properties to start construction on the property for assembly of Finland’s new fleet of F-35 jets. The land is located in Linnavuori in the municipality of Nokia, near Tampere.
Defence Properties is an unincorporated state enterprise set up in 2019 to maintain properties used by the Finnish Defence Administration.
Two years ago, the Finnish Air Forces announced the purchase of 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multi-role fighters in an 8.4-billion-euro deal with the US manufacturer.
The planes are to replace Finland's old McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, which are to be retired by 2030. The first new aircraft are to be based in Finnish Lapland by 2026.
The associated trade agreement is to bring 4,500 person-years of employment in Finland, along with another 1,500 person-years of work indirectly. It will bring an estimated 100 manufacturing and assembly jobs for Finnish defence contractor Patria in the towns of Jämsä and Nokia.
Defence Properties will build assembly and maintenance facilities for the F-35 multirole fighter’s F135 engine and other infrastructure for use by Patria Aviation in Linnavuori.
Once the construction work is completed, Defence Properties will lease the property to Patria Aviation, which will use it for the final assembly and maintenance of the jet engines.
"Employment impact of almost 6,000 person-years"
Construction of the engine assembly hall starts later this year. Engine maintenance will continue throughout the entire life cycle of Finland's F-35 fleet.
"The industrial cooperation of the F-35 project creates critical maintenance and repair know-how for the domestic industry from the point of view of reliability of maintenance. In addition, it will generate significant know-how in our country for F135 engine assembly and testing," Häkkänen said in a press release on Thursday.
The F-35 industrial cooperation project will be gradually built up by the end of 2030.
"In addition to strengthening our national defence capability and security of supply, there will be an employment impact in Finland of almost 6,000 person-years," Häkkänen added.
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