Patria and Pratt & Whitney Sign Deal for F135 Engine Production in Finland
Defense company Patria and RTX's Pratt & Whitney have agreed on the production and sustainment of F135 engines in Finland, as part of Finland's F-35 fighter jet program.
Finnish defense company Patria and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX, have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) concerning the production and sustainment of F135 engines in Finland. The agreement, signed on June 12, 2024, covers the assembly of F135 engines and components from 2025 to 2030.
The second phase of the agreement, starting in 2030, will transition to Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade (MRO&U) operations. The necessary assembly and maintenance lines will be established at Patria's Linnavuori facility in Nokia, Finland. This initiative is expected to create approximately 50 direct jobs at Patria during the specified timeframe.
This arrangement is a significant component of the industrial participation program tied to Finland's acquisition of F-35 fighter jets. Patria stated that it will foster growth in Finnish companies' expertise in fifth-generation engine technology. Furthermore, it is intended to bolster the security of supply for defense materiel for Finland and its NATO allies, while also expanding the global sustainment network for the F135 engine.
Chris Johnson, Vice President of the F135 Program at Pratt & Whitney, described the agreement as an important milestone. He emphasized that it establishes the foundation for a national depot capability to support the Finnish Air Force's operational requirements for decades to come. The Finnish Air Force is acquiring 64 F-35 fighter jets, and the engines for these aircraft are covered by the new agreement.