Finland received 13 Gnats from 1958 (nine F.1s and two FR.1s) and had intended licence building them in addition, but that did not proceed. As the first operational user of the Gnat F.1, many challenges had to be faced by the Finnish Air Force. In the harsh Scandinavian conditions, operation and maintenance was challenging, with four being lost in accidents. Once maintenance issues were overcome, it proved to be a good performer with excellent manoeuvrability, but was replaced in 1972 by the introduction of the Draken.