What’s happening? NASAMS air defence system redeployed near Budapest
Hungary’s military says it is strengthening Budapest’s air defences by deploying a NASAMS unit from the Győr-based missile regiment near the capital. NASAMS is currently the most advanced air defence system, capable of countering both drones and missiles, and has performed exceptionally well against Russian forces in Ukraine.
Budapest’s air defence strengthened
According to Infórádió, Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, stated that Hungary originally acquired the NASAMS system to enhance national air defence capabilities. In the past year, Hungarian forces have mastered the proper use of the latest NASAMS 3 system, and it is now fully operational.
The deputy chief added that part of the system is being deployed near Budapest due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, specifically in the areas around Pécel and Isaszeg. “This missile fire unit completes the country’s air defence system,” he said. He also noted that a 3D airspace surveillance radar operates in eastern Hungary.
The air defence system also includes Gripen fighter jets stationed at the Kecskemét air base. Currently, four of these jets are stationed in Lithuania, where they have already intercepted Russian aircraft—as detailed in our earlier report. Additionally, a helicopter-based air defence alert system has been introduced. These helicopters can be deployed if unidentified aerial objects enter Hungarian airspace at low altitudes.
What is NASAMS?
NASAMS is a surface-to-air missile system that includes deployable radar, fire control units, and multiple launcher units, making it more difficult to detect and neutralise the entire system. It can be integrated with sensors and various weapons, including lasers, making it an effective defence against both drones and aircraft. Elements of this system have now been deployed at two sites in the region near Budapest.
These systems do not function in isolation—they are integrated into NATO’s unified air defence system and are controlled through Hungary’s Operational Command and Control Centre in Veszprém.
Effective protection
NASAMS systems have proven to be highly effective in the war in Ukraine. Between November 2022 and February 2025, they destroyed roughly 900 aerial targets with a 94% accuracy rate.
Since 2024, Hungary has operated the NASAMS 3 variant, which is capable of launching AMRAAM-ER missiles.
Here’s a video showing one of the NASAMS devices in action:
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