Puolustusministeri Häkkäsen puhe F-35-hävittäjän julkistustilaisuudessa

Puolustusministeri Antti Häkkänen puhui F-35-hävittäjän julkistustilaisuudessa Yhdysvalloissa Texasissa tiistaina 16.12.2025.

(Muutosvarauksin)

Excellencies, distinguished officials from both the United States and Finland, ladies and gentlemen,

Today is an historic day for two reasons.

Firstly, today marks an important milestone for the bilateral defence and security relationship between Finland and United States.

Secondly, it is an important day for the strengthening of Finland’s deterrence and defence as the guardian of Nato’s north-east flank.

The strong bilateral defence relations started between our nations when Finland purchased 64 F-18 fighters from the United States in the mid 1990’s.

Ever since our defence cooperation has deepened, and it is at present deeper and wider that ever. We are confident, that our cooperation is mutually beneficial for both nations and for both of our Armed Forces.

This Rollout-ceremony underlines, that Finland is committed to investing in security and defence.

Secondly, as I mentioned, it is an important day for strengthening Finland’s deterrence and defence.

It is a great day for Finland’s defence capability.

Finland’s military strategic location requires the most capable systems and capabilities. I am confident that F-35 and its effective sensors and weapons are absolutely the right choice for our operational environment.

Purchase of 64 very capable F-35 fighters will not only strengthen Finland’s Defence, but also Nato’s deterrence and defence in general.

The F-35 fighters with their capable weapon systems and sensors will have a strong impact on the Air Defence of our beloved homeland, but also to Land and Maritime Domains.

The ministry of defence in Finland oversees both defence and materiel policies as well as international defence materiel cooperation.

MOD had a role of guiding the strategic HX program procurement and related domestic defence industry.

The ministry of defence is responsible for the industrial participation agreement, which is a means to build military security of supply safeguarding sovereign sustainment capability as well as exchanging technological knowhow.

Despite its high level of technology and expertise, Finland’s own defence industrial capacity is limited and many key weapon systems need to be procured from abroad.

Finland must sustain the necessary industrial and technological expertise in maintaining and tailoring these key systems so that their independent use can be guaranteed in all conditions.

In most cases the Finnish defence industry retains the required competency and the defence industry is integrated into Finland’s defence system at many levels.

In the future the Nordic countries will have over 200 fifth generation fighters. This will be significant airpower.  This will mean that the Nordic countries are playing a major role in Northern European security and defence.

Nordic countries are all under Nato’s Joint Force Command Norfolk. This operational arrangement together with the strong airpower creates excellent framework to deepen the defence and security cooperation between all the nations under JFC Norfolk.

Today’s Rollout is possible because of the seamless cooperation between numerous organizations and hardworking individuals. 

I also recognize that during the coming years a lot of hard work is ahead of us. 

I want to express my gratitude to the US and Finnish officials, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, the Finnish F-35 program and Finnish defence industry.

Together we are strong. In the future we are even stronger.  

I wish you all a great Rollout ceremony.