Finland’s first F-35A fighter arrives in Arkansas for US-based training

Finland’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, designated JF-501, has arrived at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, launching the Finnish Air Force’s F-35 delivery and training phase in the United States. 

According to the Finnish Air Force, JF-501 departed Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas at around 10:30 local time on January 20, 2026. The transfer flight was flown by United States Air Force Major Cole “Laser” Kingsbery. The aircraft was received at Ebbing by Colonel Tuukka Elonheimo, head of Finland’s F-35 Liaison Office. 

“This is a historic day for the Finnish Air Force. The arrival of JF-501 at Ebbing ANGB is a great milestone for our F-35 capability introduction and marks the official delivery of Finland’s F-35 fighters,” Elonheimo said. 

Finland’s very first F-35A, #JF501, arrived at Ebbing ANGB in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 20 January. This spring, the first Finnish Joint Fighters (JF) will enter service at the base as part of the practical phase of the F-35 initial training. #ilmavoimat #F35programme #F35 pic.twitter.com/rlireQmqZo— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) January 20, 2026

Factory testing and transfer to Finnish ownership 

JF-501 conducted its maiden flight on December 8, 2025, as part of factory test activities, and was publicly presented at a rollout ceremony on December 16, 2025. Following Lockheed Martin’s ground and flight tests, the US Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) conducted its own test flights before the aircraft was formally transferred first to US government ownership and then to Finland on December 23, 2025. 

The aircraft was entered into the Finnish military aircraft register on January 8, 2026. Before Finnish flight operations begin, the Military Aviation Authority will grant type certification for the F-35, and the Finnish Air Force will carry out airworthiness inspections on each F-35 as it is delivered. 

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Eight jets to support training at Ebbing ANGB, Arkansas 

First Finnish Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter rollout (Credit: Finnish Air Force)During the spring of 2026, the first Finnish F-35s will be introduced into service at Ebbing as part of the practical phase of initial training. The first eight aircraft produced for Finland, JF-501 through JF-508, will be based at Ebbing for this phase. Airframes from JF-509 onward are planned to be delivered directly to Finland starting in late 2026. 

The Finnish Air Force is sending pilots, aircraft maintenance specialists, and personnel involved with F-35 data systems to the United States in detachments. Around 150 Finnish personnel will undergo initial F-35 training in the US, including about 80 maintenance personnel, 20 pilots, and roughly 50 other trainees. Training covers areas such as F-35 information systems, fleet management, logistics, mission support, flight equipment maintenance, and ground equipment. 

Training is split between Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where Finnish personnel receive F-35 system theory and simulator instruction at the F-35 Academic Training Center, and Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where they conduct the practical flying phase. Ebbing hosts F-35 training for several partner nations, including Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and Singapore, under the US Foreign Military Sales training enterprise. 

From HX fighter decision to F-35 deliveries 

Finland selected the F-35A as the winner of its HX fighter competition in December 2021 and subsequently signed agreements to acquire 64 aircraft to replace its Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet. Deliveries are scheduled through the second half of the decade, with the Hornets planned to leave service by 2030. 

Initial F-35 training of Finnish personnel in the United States is set to continue until early 2028. Once the training detachment phase is complete, the eight Finnish JF aircraft used at Ebbing will be transferred to Finland to join the rest of the fleet.  The post Finland’s first F-35A fighter arrives in Arkansas for US-based training appeared first on AeroTime.

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