Patria and Lockheed Martin have signed their second Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for direct work within Finland´s F-35 industrial participation programme. This one provides the contractual framework for the stand-up and qualification of a landing gear doors production line at Patria's Halli facility in Jämsä, Finland. The production line will deliver landing gear doors for the F-35 global fleet.

“This long-term agreement for manufacturing of 400 sets of F-35 landing gear doors is an important addition to Patria´s future capabilities,” says Petri Hepola, Chief Program Officer, F-35 at Patria. "The further expertise of F-35 materials in connection with F-35 Forward Fuselage Assembly is essential for Finland's security of supply. Proceeding as planned, the co-operation with Lockheed Martin and F-35 supply chain has once again been very productive."

The landing gear doors project is a key element of the F-35's industrial participation solution in Finland to transfer technical and manufacturing experience in 5th Generation aircraft production. This project will provide decades of high technology manufacturing work and enable Finnish industry to prepare for future operational and sustainment opportunities.

“The F-35 industrial opportunities offered to Finland leverage and increase Finnish industry's depth of knowledge while also enhancing the country's security of supply,” says Mike Shoemaker, vice president of F-35 customer programs at Lockheed Martin. “We look forward to working with Patria to develop this robust production capability in Finland and partnering with Finnish industry for the full life of the program.”

The agreement is one of many projects Lockheed Martin is partnering on with Finnish industry, universities, and research groups, focused on F-35 production, sustainment and defence-related technologies. The F-35's industrial participation solution in Finland creates strong competences via security of supply and is also significant for national economy.