Hungarians catch Russian aircraft one after the other: Hungarian lieutenant colonel revealed insider insights – photos

Hungary’s Gripen fighter jets have completed 20 real missions over the past three and a half months, mainly intercepting Russian planes, drones, and Belarusian balloons as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) operation, securing Baltic airspace. Most scramble alerts were triggered by Russian Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft and SU and MIG fighter and military transport planes. These appeared unidentified mainly along the narrow air corridor between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg.

Hungarian pilots have already carried out 20 live intercept missions

From 1 August to 1 December, the Hungarian Defence Forces are protecting the airspace of the Baltic states with four JAS-39C Gripen fighters and about 80 personnel. This is necessary because Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania do not have their own air forces, so NATO member states collaborate to guard their skies.

After previous rotations in 2015, 2019, and 2022, Hungary now leads this mission alongside the Spanish and Italian air forces. So far, Hungarian pilots have flown 300 sorties, accumulating over 365 flight hours. This includes 20 real ALFA alerts, 76 TANGO intercept exercises, and 53 training flights.

NATO member countries have been rotating the BAP mission since 2004. This marks the fourth time Hungarian Gripens have been involved, and the second since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.

• No hesitation: Hungarians capture Russian aircraft on their first mission

Hungarians secure the Baltics against unidentified Russian aircraft

The Hungarian contingent mainly performs Quick Reaction Alert duties, meaning the Gripens scramble within 15 minutes to identify unknown aircraft, explained Péter Tősér, head of the Hungarian Armed Forces’ Air Defence Readiness Unit, during a press tour. These are usually Russian fighters, transport planes, or reconnaissance aircraft flying unidentified close to Baltic airspace.

This means they either lack filed flight plans, fail to establish radio contact with air traffic controllers, or switch off onboard transponders. Physical identification is required, which fighter jets carry out from a distance—recognising a fighter from 40 miles away and pinpointing its type within 10 miles.