Insta, a technology company, has reached a three-year procurement agreement with the Finnish Defence Forces concerning Finland’s F-35 fighter program.
This acquisition is founded on the strategic partnership pact between the Finnish Defence Forces and Insta and spans the period from 2024 to 2026.
The procurement encompasses the establishment of maintenance and service capabilities for the avionics of the Finnish Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multi-role fighters, specifically focusing on the aircraft’s electronic systems, along with associated support services.
The deployment of the F-35 fighters is scheduled to commence from 2026 onward.
The F-35s are touted as the most advanced and versatile fighter jets, brimming with cutting-edge technology that solidifies their prowess in stealth capabilities and surveillance.
Ville Kettula, Insta’s VP for the aviation business, emphasized the importance of building upon the existing competence, stating, “Building capability for maintaining the F-35’s avionics systems allows for us to establish a strong continuum of competence regarding critical systems and technology.”
As Finland joins NATO, defense systems are becoming more interconnected across borders, leading to a surge in data volume and rapid technological advancements.
The ability to harness this data for strategic leadership and situational awareness will play a crucial role in modern warfare.
“The rapid advancement of technology and equipment underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and repair, in addition to cybersecurity measures. Apart from servicing the avionics systems of the aircraft, Insta will take on the task of integrating the new fighter’s systems with the Finnish command and control systems in collaboration with the Finnish Defence Forces,” elaborates Kettula.
Apart from maintenance tasks, Insta is actively involved in ongoing research and product development endeavors aimed at enhancing the operational reliability, flight safety, and overall performance of the fighters.
Finland is set to obtain a fleet of 64 F-35 fighters. With an anticipated service life of 30 years for the aircraft, there will be a continuous need for maintenance and improvement efforts well into the foreseeable future.
The partnership with Insta, as Petri Reiman, Senior Vice President for Insta Advance pointed out, opens up new international opportunities, given that several NATO countries have chosen the F-35.
“We have the opportunity to provide maintenance and repair services for avionics systems on F-35 fighters even outside of Finland,” Reiman added.
Established in 1973, Insta’s Defence division has evolved from a workshop specializing in aircraft gauge repair to becoming a key strategic ally of the Finnish Defence Forces, boasting a workforce of over 400 highly skilled professionals.
As early as 2023, Insta and Lockheed Martin inked a collaboration pact for the development of a next-generation data relay and filtering solution. This agreement marked the initial project linked to the indirect industrial cooperation of Finland’s F-35 fighter initiative.
Relevant articles:
– Finnish Defence Forces logistic command acquires F-35 fighter avionics and maintenance services from technology company Insta, SourceSecurity.com
– 50 years of Insta Defence: Developing state-of-the-art technology and security of supply, Insta Group
– Insta and Lockheed Martin signed cooperation agreement of developing next generation network security & gateway solution, GlobeNewswire
– Defence & Aviation, Insta Group