Finnish Air Force have revealed that the type code of Finland's future F-35A Lightning II fleet is JF, which will differ from the current fighter jet fleet code.
The designation JF of the new fleet is derived from the English words Joint Fighter, which emphasizes the added value and importance of the aircraft to the performance of all defense branches.
The marking JF deviates from the previous tradition of the Air Force, according to which the type code is derived from the letters that appeared in the name of the aircraft.
The type code of the existing Finnish Air Force Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet is HN , and the code of its predecessors Saab Draken was DK and the code of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was MG.
Air Force Commander Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen said about the new code,
In December 2021, we received a decision on the next F-35 fighter. After much consideration, we named the type code JF, Joint Fighter, and the equipment numbering starts with 501 (JF-501).
The Lightning II is not in general use, everyone is talking about the F-35. At one time, in the United States, there was a competition for a joint future fighter for the defense branches, and at that time the competition was named the Joint Strike Fighter project - JSF.
This is still used more often than Lightning today. The F-35 brings significant performance to the entire defense system, so it is natural to name the plane the joint fighter of the defense forces - JF.
The fleet is numbered per machine, starting with code JF-501 and ending with code JF-564. The traditions of fighter squadrons 11 and 31 are respected by marking the squadron insignia Visentti and Ilves on the outer surfaces of the side stabilizers of JF-511 and JF-531 aircraft.
The markings are low-sensitivity, i.e. for example, the colors of the blue-and-white marking pattern of the national emblem are faded. The final size and exact locations of the markings will be determined in the detailed design of the painting diagrams.
Earlier on December 10, 2021, the Finnish government had selected the F-35 as the winner of the HX Program. The Finnish Air Force is going to receive 64 F-35A aircraft.
As per Lockheed Martin , the F-35 is designed to be updated as technology progresses, and the threat environment evolves. Expected to remain in service until the 2070s, the F-35 is guaranteed to secure Finland’s independence for decades to come.
Source : Finnish Air Force / ilmavoimat
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