Patria completes assembly of Finland's first F135 engine at new Nokia facility
Patria has successfully assembled the first F135 fighter engine at its new facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, the company said. The engine powers the F-35 Lightning II. Finland is acquiring 64 F-35A aircraft; engine assembly and maintenance will be performed domestically under the industrial participation agreement with Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney.
Sweden to extend Patriot deployment in Poland through spring 2027, plans broader NATO ground commitments in Finland and Latvia
Sweden intends to keep its Patriot air-defence systems in Poland until at least spring 2027, according to Defence Minister Pål Jonson. Stockholm is also preparing broader military commitments to NATO's eastern flank, including ground deployments in Finland and Latvia and maritime and air operations. Jonson stated Russia remains Sweden's most serious security threat.
Why it matters: Sweden is shifting from symbolic NATO participation to sustained eastern-flank burden-sharing—a tacit admission that Nordic defence now depends on Poland's air-defence umbrella holding.
SwedenPolandFinlandLatviaPål Jonson Defence24 →Defence Industry Europe →
Millog signs agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain F-35 ground support equipment for Finland and partners
Finnish firm Millog signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain, repair, overhaul and upgrade F-35 ground support equipment for Finland and other partner nations. No contract value or list of partner nations was disclosed.
Finland restricts airspace and maritime traffic in eastern Gulf of Finland near Russian border
The Finnish Defence Forces established temporary airspace and maritime restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Finland close to the Russian border on 16 October at 05:42 for aviation and 05:56 for maritime traffic. Similar measures have previously been implemented in response to drone activity near Finnish territory.
Latvia receives first Hunter infantry fighting vehicle from General Dynamics
General Dynamics European Land Systems delivered the first of 84 ASCOD-based Hunter infantry fighting vehicles to Latvia's armed forces, 1.5 years after contract signature. Final assembly of the first vehicle began in August 2026 at Patria's Valmiera plant in Latvia. All 84 vehicles are on order from GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas.
Why it matters: Latvia is getting tracked IFVs faster than most Western armies modernize their own fleets, and final assembly in-country is real — a template for how NATO's eastern flank is rebuilding industrial capacity, not just buying off the shelf.
LatviaGeneral Dynamics European Land SystemsPatria Hartpunkt →Soldat & Technik →