Switzerland’s Armasuisse has confirmed that production of the country’s first F-35A is under way at Leonardo’s Cameri facility in northern Italy, where the first fuselage section has been joined with the first wing. The aircraft, allocated Swiss military registration J-6004, is moving through the multinational F-35 supply chain at Europe’s only final assembly line for the type, with delivery to Switzerland expected at the end of 2029.
The Cameri site in the province of Novara is manufacturing key components for the jet, including the fuselage section designated MJ-4. The work forms part of the international production network for the Lockheed Martin fighter, which places selected build tasks in Europe rather than in Switzerland. The first F-35A from Cameri is due to transfer directly to Switzerland in mid-2028, before J-6004 follows later in the programme timeline.
Armasuisse’s update indicates the Swiss fleet build-up remains on schedule, with structural assembly already visible on the first aircraft. The programme relies on cross-border industrial workshare between Leonardo, Lockheed Martin and the Swiss procurement authorities, underscoring the extent to which the aircraft’s early production stages are tied to established F-35 manufacturing capacity outside Switzerland.