LOCATIONS
LAND
14 Oct 25. Assembly and maintenance facility for F-35 fighter jet engines completed in Linnavuori, Nokia. The assembly and maintenance facility for F-35 fighter jet engines, located in Linnavuori, Nokia in Finland, has been completed on schedule. The facility, constructed by Defence Properties Finland, has been handed over to Patria. As the strategic partner of the Finnish Defence Forces, Patria is responsible for assembling, maintaining, and servicing of F135 engines. The production facility will initially serve as assembly spaces for the engines and will later be converted for engine maintenance and overhaul. Finland’s first F-35A fighters will arrive at the Lapland Air Wing base in Rovaniemi at the end of 2026. Maintenance activities will continue in Nokia throughout the entire lifecycle of Finland’s F-35 fleet. The facilities were constructed in accordance with the objectives and high security requirements of the F-35 programme and the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, as part of the F-35 programme’s industrial cooperation.
“The purpose of the industrial participation led by the Finnish Ministry of Defence is to secure domestic security of supply and, at the same time, create employment. The production of F-35 components in Linnavuori is a significant and concrete step forward in the defence and security cooperation between Finland and the United States. It is also a recognition of Finnish expertise, which is trusted even in the most demanding projects. The F-35 will become the backbone of air defence for the entire democratic world, and with Linnavuori, an important centre of expertise will be established in Finland,” says the Minister of Defence for Finland Antti Häkkänen.
“The construction project successfully passed all security inspections by the United States. Strict security regulations must be observed throughout the supply chain, and both contractors and designers performed well in this demanding project. Thanks to close and effective cooperation between all parties, we were able to keep to the schedule precisely,” says Matias Warsta, CEO of Defence Properties Finland. Defence Properties Finland is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure and properties required for Finland’s F-35 fighters. In addition to the Linnavuori facilities, Defence Properties Finland is constructing infrastructure in all Air Force bases during this decade.
“Cooperation between the parties during the Linnavuori construction project has been smooth. It’s great to see the results of our joint efforts, which help to build new capabilities for F-35 programme. The production facilities in Linnavuori and the growing Patria team play a key role in this and in the upcoming F135 engine assembly and maintenance work,” says Petri Hepola, Patria’s Chief Program Officer, F-35.
Under the agreement signed with Pratt & Whitney in 2024, Patria will assemble F135 engines and components from 2025 to 2030, followed by a transition to F135 engine Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) operations, beginning in 2030. The direct employment impact of the agreement for Patria between 2025 and 2030 is estimated to be around 50 people. In addition to the production facilities, new area infrastructure and transport routes were built in Linnavuori.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
13 Oct 25. The UK Defence Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Rupert Pearce as National Armaments Director (NAD) at the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Mr Pearce brings extensive leadership experience from the private sector, including 16 years at FTSE100 satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat, where he served as CEO for nine years. He will take up the role of NAD on 14th October, with Andy Start, who has been establishing the new Group as National Armaments Director in an interim capacity, supporting him for the first few months of his tenure.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
13 Oct 25. LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) (“LightPath,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”), a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications, today announced the appointment of Mark Caylor to the company’s Board of Directors, effective October 9, 2025. Mark Caylor is a veteran defense industry executive with over 35 years of experience driving profitable growth, planning and executing technology and corporate strategy, managing capital structure and risk, and leading large organizations. Mr. Caylor recently retired as President of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems Sector, a supplier of advanced sensing, processing, and communications technologies for defense and intelligence customers, with operations in the U.S. and Europe. He was previously President, Enterprise Services and Chief Strategy Officer where he led Northrop Grumman’s shared services, corporate strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. He also served as Corporate Vice President and Treasurer, responsible for the company’s liquidity, insurance, and capital structure management. Earlier, Mr. Caylor held leadership roles in banking and capital markets as well as technology development. He joined Northrop Grumman in 2002. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Oct 25. V2X, Inc. (NYSE: VVX), today announced the appointment of Jeff Cheatham as Vice President of Contracts and Subcontracts. In this role, Cheatham will oversee all contract strategy, negotiation, and administration activities across the enterprise, ensuring excellence in execution, compliance, and customer engagement in support of V2X’s global operations. He will report to V2X General Counsel, Jeremy Nance. (Source: PR Newswire)