Anne Kauranen. Essi Lehto. Mike Stone

HELSINKI/WASHINGTON – Finland and America have signed a $9.4billion agreement to acquire F-35 fighter planes. The deal will allow 64 radar-evident warplanes to be brought to a nation bordering Russia.

The planes will not enter service until after a few years. Finland previously stated that the planes will be ready for use in 2027.

Additional to the aircraft, the agreement with U.S. Government and the planemaker Lockheed Martin (NYSE: ) Includes maintenance equipment, spare part and training services. The Finnish Defence Forces released a statement Friday. A later signing agreement will be done in 2022 to purchase air-to–air ammunition.

The Defence Forces stated that the aim was to make sure Finland’s F-35 systems have the highest performance possible going into 2030s.

Finland is now a member not only of NATO but also of the EU. Finland was historically neutral in the Cold War. It has been a strong partner in the West’s military alliance over recent years. Finland’s defense forces material policy relies on NATO-compatibility of all its new equipment.

The Finnish government stated that the purchase of U.S. aircraft was part long-term defense plans and not an immediate response to current tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

Mikko Hochala, Finland’s ambassador in the United States to Finland, stated that the statement was part of long-term planning.

Russia has gathered more than 100,000 troops close to its borders with Ukraine and Western countries are concerned that it may be plotting an attack. Moscow claims it does not intend to invade, but has stated that it may take “military technical” actions if demands aren’t met. This includes a commitment to accept no more countries into NATO or to withdraw Western troops from Eastern Europe.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finlands-pm-says-nato-membership-is-very-unlikely-her-watch-2022-01-19 in January the country had no plans at present to apply to join NATO, but added the Nordic nation retains the right to join if it so wishes.