Finnish defence and aerospace company Patria has signed an agreement to produce composite component assemblies for the cargo hold of Airbus’ new A350F cargo aircraft.
Manufacturing will take place at Patria’s Halli facility in Finland, with deliveries set to begin in 2025. The contract builds on a long-standing partnership between Patria and Airbus, extending their cooperation across multiple aerospace projects.
“Patria is honoured to supply composite component assemblies to Airbus,” said Mikko Kilpeläinen. Mikko is the Vice President, Commercial and Business Development, Sustainment Solutions at Patria. “This contract marks an extension of the long-standing and broad partnership between the two companies across various projects. It shows Patria’s capabilities in the international aerospace industry.”
Strengthening Industry Ties
The A350F is Airbus’ dedicated freighter version of its successful A350 family. The A350F will meet growing demand in the air cargo market while offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Patria’s role in the programme will focus on manufacturing advanced composite structures. These structures will form part of the aircraft’s cargo hold, a critical area for load safety and weight optimization.
The agreement underscores the importance of composite manufacturing expertise in modern aircraft production. Patria’s Halli facility has decades of experience in advanced materials, serving both defence and civilian aerospace customers.
Nordic Defence and Aerospace Partnership
Patria is jointly owned by the State of Finland (50.1%) and Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Together with Norwegian-Finnish munitions manufacturer Nammo — of which Patria owns 50% — the companies form a leading Nordic defence and aerospace partnership.
In addition to its defence portfolio, Patria has steadily expanded its aerospace manufacturing capabilities, securing contracts in both military and commercial aviation markets. Its work for Airbus aligns with a broader strategy to leverage its engineering expertise in international aerospace programmes.
With A350F production ramping up ahead of its planned entry into service, Patria’s contribution will help Airbus meet delivery timelines while maintaining the aircraft’s weight, efficiency, and durability targets.
Javeria Sajid is an Aerospace Engineering student from NUST with a background in technology and a sharp focus on the global political landscape and defence innovation. She writes to make complex defence technologies understandable, and aspires to bridge journalism, policy, and engineering in her work.
