An agreement has been reached with the Swedish defence minister on the joint development of the Gripen fighter jet, Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Wednesday.
“Today, we had talks with the Swedish defence minister in Stockholm, and we signed an agreement we could call historic: we will work together on developing the Gripens, and on many other important bilateral issues,” he said in a video on Facebook. “The Gripens that are coming from Sweden are an iconic multifunctional combat aircraft of the Hungarian Air Forces, a defining force of Hungarian defence,” the minister said.
“Swedish-Hungarian ties, especially since Sweden’s NATO accession, have been elevated to a strategic level,” he said.
Photo: FB/Szalay-Bobrovniczky
Despite opposing views on issues such as the war in Ukraine, “we have conducted a valuable and honest discussion,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.
In a Facebook post, the Hungarian defence minister called Hungary “the guardian of airspaces”. That is because Hungarian Gripen fighters protect the airspace of some neighbouring countries and the Baltic states.
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- Photo: MTI
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- Photo: MTI
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- Photo: MTI
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- Photo: MTI
UPDATE: Long-term and fruitful cooperation with Saab
As a committed member of NATO, Hungary has a prime interest in close strategic and defence cooperation with Saab, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said after signing a letter of intent with Saab chief executive Micael Johansson on building closer cooperation at the company’s factory in Linköping on Thursday.
The minister said Hungary as a Gripen user and R and D partner wanted “long-term and fruitful” cooperation with Saab, according to a ministry statement. “We’re delighted that Saab plans to establish an aviation industry development centre in Hungary and continue work done together with defence innovation research institute VIKI on developing virtual reality, AI and 3D technologies, focusing on printing and new materials.” Enhanced cooperation would intensify innovation opportunities for domestic SMEs and defence innovation companies, he added.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary saw Saab as a key partner in efforts by the Hungarian armed forces to upgrade its technologies and capabilities. For almost two decades, Hungary has been using Gripens to police the airspace of Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia. Also, it does so for the Baltic states every three years and will perform the task for a fourth time in 2025, he said, adding that its air policing made a big contribution to the security of the Hungarian people, NATO and the EU, a foreign ministry statement said. The minister is in Brussels later on Thursday representing Hungary’s interests at the NATO defence ministerial meeting, the statement added.
Read also:
- Czechs: a fleet of outdated aircraft safeguards Hungary’s airspace
- How can Sweden join NATO? Orbán seals a massive arms and military industry deal
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4 Comments
“After we kept Sweden sweating regarding NATO accession, holding out to the very last, they are now our strategic partners!”
Lovely transactional bunch, our Politicians. I am sure the Swedes have forgotten all about it.
Bit of detail regarding our Guardians of Airspaces (all 14 of them, plus 4 in due time):
“The Swedish Air Force operates 74 JAS 39Cs, 24 Ds and 3 Es, ordered 60 Es as of 2016 with 10 more aircraft planned to be ordered. It originally ordered 204 aircraft, including 28 two-seaters. Sweden leases (LEASES – my caps) 28 to the Czech and Hungarian Air Forces.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen
If anything, methinks the Baltics would rather rely on Swedish air power. For context re numbers: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 (sixty) F16s … If anything goes wrong in Hungary, I guess it is all of NATOs help we will need.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293688/nato-aircraft-strength-country/ – the usual challenge: find Hungary on the chart
For context: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293754/nato-aircraft-strength-type/
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Who are Hungarian Gripen jets protecting neighbouring countries and Baltic states from? This is the ongoing mystery of the Hungarian defence department. They never name who it is that is the threat because they are forbidden from saying it. It starts with an “R” but despite being a defence minister in a NATO country that name will never pass through Szalay-Bobrovnicky lips. Ask yourself why.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Sweeden is not an ally but if Hungary needs fighters and Gripen serves the purpose, purchasing the planes is a good decision. Hungary must also ensure the supply of spare parts. It may be a good idea to set up a plant to manufacture spare parts.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
@larry – excellent observation. Thank you.