President Stubb to attend F-35 fighter roll-out ceremony in the United States

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 83/2025
8 December 2025

President Alexander Stubb will visit Texas, United States, on 15 and 16 December 2025.

President Stubb will attend the official roll-out ceremony of Finland's first F-35A multi-role fighter jet, ordered from the United States, in Fort Worth on Tuesday 16 December. After the ceremony, the President will visit the F-35 fighter jet assembly line at the Lockheed Martin production facility.

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and Air Force Commander, Major General Timo Herranen will also be present at the ceremony in Fort Worth.

On Monday 15 December, the President will attend the opening of the Consulate General of Finland in Houston. The Consulate General will provide dedicated support to Finnish companies seeking to enter the market. In addition, the President will take part in a business seminar with Finnish companies in Houston, where he will deliver a speech.

In Houston, the President of the Republic will be accompanied by a business delegation, featuring representatives from Patria Group, IQM Quantum Computers, KuvaSpace, UNIKIE, VTT Group, ICEYE, Sensofusion, Insta Group, Fastems Group, Vaisala, HIAB, SolarFoods, Puolustus- ja Ilmailuteollisuus PIA and Nokia. 

The F-35 Programme has a substantial impact on Finland’s defence capability and the Air Force’s combat capability well into the 2060s. The first Finnish F-35 fighters will enter into service in 2026 as part of the training of Finnish personnel in the United States. The first F-35 aircraft will arrive at the Lapland Air Wing, Finland, in late 2026.