Hungarian Gripens intercepted Russian military aircraft again
Hungary provides air defence for several NATO member states, yet Russian drones, fighter jets, and other military aircraft regularly violate this airspace. Recently, Hungarian fighters once again intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic states’ airspace. A similar operation took place back in August.
Heated debate in Slovakia about the Hungarian airspace protection
Since 1 August, Hungary has resumed air defence duties for the Baltic states while also protecting the airspace of Slovenia and Slovakia with its Gripen jets. Interestingly, just weeks ago, Slovak Sports Minister Rudolf Huliak raised concerns about a perceived “Hungarian threat,” proposing mandatory military training for all men over 18. Though he did not reveal precise details, he pointed to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s scarf emblazoned with a Greater Hungary map as symbolic evidence of the Hungarian leader’s intentions.
- Orbán’s ‘territorial claims’ spur Slovak minister’s mandatory military training plan
Meanwhile, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico calmly posed for photos with Orbán on the Mária Valéria Bridge over the weekend. In Slovakia, airspace defence has long been a political football, especially given frequent incursions by Russian drones.
The opposition claims Slovakia’s air defence is incapable of shooting down drones, yet there is little mention of Hungary’s Gripens based in Kecskemét, which intercept them. Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák accused the previous government of wrongdoing for handing over MiG-29 fighters and S-300 missile systems to Ukraine. Former Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď also criticised the government for failing to deploy the German-supplied Mantis anti-drone air defence systems.
Hungarian Gripens catch more Russian military aircraft
Hungary is actively involved in the air policing of multiple NATO members, playing a key role not only for Croatia and Slovenia but also for Slovakia and the three Baltic states on NATO’s eastern flank. According to Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the Gripens patrolling Baltic airspace since 1 August have already received their tenth real scramble alert just last Friday morning, this time due to Russian military aircraft.
- Is Hungary safe? Russian drones could reach us without difficulty
Tensions between NATO and Russia flared the day before when five Russian military aircraft approached Danish airspace. This prompted two Hungarian Gripens to scramble from the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, NATO reported. The formation included a Su-30, a Su-35, and three MiG-31s flying northwest toward the Danish border.
Hungary has a history of defending the Baltic states
Hungary has previously provided air defence for the Baltic states in 2015, 2019, and 2022, leading the Spanish-Italian-Hungarian cooperation this year. During the 2022 mission, Hungarian pilots intercepted Russian Su-35S and Su-27P fighter-bombers, Su-24M strike aircraft, as well as transport and reconnaissance planes. That year, they responded to 19 alerts, flew 246 sorties, and logged over 304 mission hours, excluding 62 training flights, reports baon.hu.
No comment by Larry this time! Very strange or did you fly like Icarus to the sun?!
President Victor Orban shouldn’t be worried about airspace violations from his friend/ally Russia. This is how a human being reacts: ignores it when somethings happens to other people, complains about it when something happens to themselves. It’s unfair to me, not to you, for the same ill-treatment.