Hungary wants to produce military vehicles, aircraft, ammunition, arms

The government is providing 2.4 billion forints (EUR 6.5m) to the construction of a national centre for the weapons making industry in Csongrád, in southern Hungary, the innovation and technology minister said on Thursday.

The project will cover refurbishment of the Diána Arms Technology School, as well as the purchase of new equipment, as well as funds for further research, László Palkovics said. Palkovics noted the government’s strategy of developing the national defence industry launched in 2020, partly aimed at

reestablishing production capabilities in terms of military vehicles, aircraft, ammunitions, arms, radar equipment and sensors, as well as communications.

The government supports the Diana School’s ambition to become the country’s “number one” school of weapons, Palkovics said. Concerning the defence industry, the minister said “Hungary develops and makes various equipment to protect itself rather than to attack others”.

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The government plans to spend 5 billion forints (EUR 13.5m) on

a base for the Defence Innovation Research Institute in Szeged,

in southern Hungary, the innovation and technology minister said during a visit to the county seat on Thursday. László Palkovics said 3 billion forints of the allocation will go toward the construction of a 3,000 sqm building and the rest will be used to outfit it with equipment.

The base will focus on laser research and research in the area of molecular biology already under way at Szeged University,

he added. The base is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025, the minister said.

The base is one of two planned for the 37 billion forint Defence Innovation Research Institute, expected to be inaugurated in the capital in 2025. The institute’s other base planned in Zalaegerszeg, in western Hungary, will focus on equipment such as batteries, drones and tracked vehicles as well as testing and certification procedures.

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Source: MTI