Military helicopters deployed to guard Hungarian airport

A Hungarian airport has been placed under military protection, with two helicopters taking over air defence duties from Friday, according to a press briefing held on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Péter Freytag of the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Battalion explained that, following a decision by the Defence Council, designated units and equipment of the Hungarian Defence Forces, working closely with domestic security agencies, are ensuring a military presence at critical energy infrastructure sites, the Nyíregyháza Airport among them.

“Our primary task is the safeguarding and protection of key energy infrastructure, both on the ground and in the air,” the lieutenant colonel said.

Mission details: Drone defence and unknown aircraft interception

Freytag elaborated that the helicopter unit, arriving from Szolnok, is primarily responsible for air defence tasks, including drone protection and the identification, interception, or possible neutralisation of any unknown or unidentifiable aerial vehicle or device.

The unit is operating with one H225M and one H145M helicopter stationed at Nyíregyháza Airport.