Hungarian Defence Forces

Hungarian government continues sacking hundreds of high-ranking military officers

Hungary military sacking officers

In January, the government accepted a decree allowing to send even high-ranking military officers into retirement. Then media outlets reported about more than a hundred generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, etc., the defence minister has sacked. Based on the sources of the Válasz Online, the government will not stop. They are prepared to send away even more military officers, but the media outlet believes that is not an anti-NATO step.

More than 110 officers sent into retirement

Válasz Online, a Hungarian independent news outlet using only the donations of its readers, shared many details about the first wave of ‘grand sacking’ in the Hungarian Defence Forces. They also wrote some names in their recent article concerned with ‘forced retirement’. One of them, for example, is the deputy commander of the KFOR (Kosovo Force, the NATO’s biggest mission), brigadier general János Szpisják.

The online media outlet argues that the preparations for the first wave were carried out in complete secrecy. Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky held his reular ‘state of military’ speech on 17 January in Budapest’s illustrious Bálna event centre, near the Danube. There he talked about the importance of renewing the military staff to the press. Afterwards, he invited all the leading generals and military officers to a no-press follow-up on the building’s first floor and read out the names who will be dismissed.

Since the preparations were carried out in utter secrecy, nobody knew what to expect, and all were surprised to hear that the minister ‘beheaded’ the Hungarian Defence Forces. The number of concerned was above 110, including even the two deputy commanders of the Hungarian Defence Forces, lieutenant general Zsolt Sándor and major general Attila János Simon. Furthermore, Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky dismissed most of the ministry’s department leaders.

The ‘purge’ will continue – here is how

However, the ‘purge’, or the rejuvenation, as minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky calls it, will not stop. The unit commanders are next who will rank their subordinates concerning the following points:

  • professionalism
  • international experience
  • language knowledge
  • physical state
  • performance evaluation

The maximum number of points is 9. People getting at least six can remain in the military.

Válasz Online does not understand why the rejuvenation had to be carried out so quickly. They argue that even if somebody learns to use the latest technologies, they need experienced officers to integrate that knowledge and technology into a system. Moreover, there is a war in Hungary’s neighbourhood.

Uncertainty will harm the military

The media outlet asks how one can choose the career of becoming an military officer if they cannot be sure whether they can retire with dignity or will be sacked at the age of 45 and after their 25th year of service.

Ágnes Vadai, an MP of the opposition DK and a former secretary of defence, talked about firing NATO supporters from the military. However, the sources of Válasz Online said the opposite was true. The new generation of officers knows only the NATO standards, so they are ‘NATO-compatible.’ Moreover, the Alliance did not say a word about the Hungarian government’s relevant decision.

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Military convoys to swarm Hungary’s roads this week

Military convoys Hungary

Several military convoys are to occupy numerous Hungarian roads this week, mainly in the Eastern regions of Hungary, according to the Ministry of Defence. The ministry added that nobody should be concerned because that would only be a rearrangement of the units. The operation will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Blikk.hu wrote that the roads concerned included main roads nr 41 and 47 and the M3 and M35 motorways. The counties where the operation will take place are Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Hajdú-Bihar, Békés and Csongrád-Csanád. Residents are asked to pay extra attention because the speed and length of the military convoys differ from familiar traffic, just like the vehicles’ size.

Importantly, civilian cars and trucks may not enter the military convoys. Therefore, special vehicles will escort the convoys in the front and in the end.

Here is what a military convoy looks like:

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Read alsoNATO will kick out Hungary for sacking ‘NATO friend officers’ from the Hungarian military?

What will the Russians say? Hungarian military to start drills in Tallinn next week

Hungary soldier training military

But that is not the Tallinn you would first think. The Hungarian Armed Forces are to start military drills from Monday until Thursday in some Szolnok districts, including Tallinn. As a result, residents of the region should prepare for increased sound effects in that area.

Tallinn, a district of Szolnok

The HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion will carry out training tasks between Monday and Thursday in Szolnok. The exercises are scheduled between 8 AM and 4 PM in Szolnok’s Tallinn district and the neighbourhood of Besenyszögi street. The drills will cause increased sound effects, though the military said they would follow all relevant laws to spare the citizens living in that area, index.hu wrote.

And why is a district in Szolnok named after Tallinn? That is probably a heritage of the Soviet occupation of Hungary. Since there was a military base in Szolnok even in the Socialist era, it is imaginable that Soviet soldiers were housed in the city’s Tallinn district. And why Tallinn? Maybe because it was part of the Soviet Union back then or because there were a lot of Estonian soldiers serving in Hungary those days.

Defence minister: Honest dialogue important with neighbouring countries

It is important that beyond international organisations, neighbouring countries also maintain close and honest dialogue with each other, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said after talks with his Slovenian counterpart of Friday. Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that he was in agreement with Marjan Sarec about the security of the western Balkans having special significance, with no European security existing without it. They also both condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine and expressed support from the country’s territorial integrity and independence.

“In an era of dangers”, Hungary must face not only a war in the neighbouring country but also the pressure of migration from the south, he said. As a result, the sides at the talks reviewed issues concerning the stability of the region and migration, he added. Concerning the stability of the western Balkans, he said Slovenian and Hungarian soldiers are participating in missions, with Hungary being one of the largest participants in KFOR and also represented in the EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Concerning the Russia-Ukraine war, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary was on the side of peace and wanted to avoid getting dragged into the war, and he said NATO should be encouraged to make every effort to avoid escalation.

Respected members of NATO

Both countries are dedicated and respected members of NATO, making every effort to fulfil NATO obligations in proportion to their abilities and even beyond, he said. Szalay-Bobrovniczky said he had informed his Slovenian colleague about the process of strengthening Hungary’s military force, with 2 percent of the country’s GDP being spent in this undertaking. To meet the demands of generation change encouraged by NATO, Hungary’s is implementing a scheme to appoint younger officers in leading positions, he added. Hungary is proud that together with Italy, it has been participating in Slovenian airspace policing for years, he said.

Sarec said that the talks focused on ways to further strengthen already excellent cooperation between the two countries, in the areas of defence and the military. Training will remain a priority for aviation control and pilots, as well as military exercises, he said. Cooperation was increased last year in the area of special operations, and it will be further enhanced in military logistics, he added. He qualified the defence industry strategy presented by Szalay-Bobrovniczky as “very good”. Slovenia is also preparing a new defence strategy and increasing its defence spending, he added.

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Read alsoNATO will kick out Hungary for sacking ‘NATO friend officers’ from the Hungarian military?

Orbán holds talks with Rheinmetall CEO: We must defend Hungary

orbán papperger

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks in his office with Armin Papperger, the chief executive of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, on Thursday, the PM’s press chief said.

Orbán and Papperger agreed that in times of strife and amidst the war in Ukraine, the decision to launch Hungary’s defence industry development programme had proved a good one, Bertalan Havasi said.

The prime minister said that defending Hungary was “our most important goal”, adding that the development programme must not slow down “despite the crisis caused by the European sanctions”. Cooperation of Rheinmetall and the Hungarian state will continue uninterrupted, he added.

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky also attended the talks.

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Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner visits Hungary

Klaudia Tanner budapest hungary ungarn

Hungary and Austria are “good neighbours” and maintain strong cooperation in defence and other areas, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Monday, after talks with his Austrian counterpart in Budapest.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Klaudia Tanner agreed that the stability of the Western Balkans was a proirity.

Hungary has troops serving in KFOR, NATO’s Kosovo mission, as well as in the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted.

The ministers also discussed the war in Ukraine. Hungary and Austria are in agreement about not sending weapons to Ukraine, he said. Hungary wants to avoid escalating the situation there, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. At the same time, both countries are aiding refugees fleeing the war, he said.

Meanwhile, the Hungarian Armed Forces are being “rejuvenated”, the minister told his counterpart.

Young officers experienced in NATO missions who speak foreign languages are “being given important positions, while older officers are offered a dignified and fair way out of the military,” he said.

Tanner praised defence cooperation between the two countries, noting that their forces were cooperating in 7 foreign missions.

Monday’s talks focused on European security and the latest developments in Ukraine. She pointed to the danger of the war spreading to Europe, including “non-traditional threats” such as growing illegal migration.

European countries will have to cooperate closely to solve “the problem of migration” together, she said.

Strengthening the Western Balkans was a key solution to migration, she said. The EU integration of the region is also “inevitable”, she said.

Stability in the Western Balkans and a strengthened European Union are key to a joint defence against illegal migration, she said, thanking Hungary for its role in maintaining the region’s security.

Tanner said they had discussed EU-NATO cooperation, and agreed that the EU should be “more decisive” in voicing its views, and that the NATO’s impending enlargement warrants close cooperation.

Austria and Hungary need a “credible and robust” defence and security policy to avoid opening up the possibility of new threats and conflicts, she said.

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Defence Minister: We cannot wait, Hungary must be combat-ready

Hungary Defence Forces NATO ministry

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the combat readiness of Hungary’s armed forces must be “the best at all times” in a video message posted on Facebook on Sunday.

Putting young commissioned and non-commissioned officers in command positions is “indispensable” for the enhancement of the armed forces’ combat readiness, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

Officers with modern training, international experience and a command of foreign languages are necessary to operate the cutting edge, digital equipment that the armed forces are getting, he said. The same kind of people are needed to apply combat techniques that can be learned in modern conflicts, he added.

Commanders also need to be in top physical shape to ensure they can keep up with their troops, he said. Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted that the armed forces have taken delivery of Leopard and Lynx armoured vehicles and will get radar systems of the kind used by Israel’s Iron Dome for air defence this year. He said a ten-year plan for the armed forces aims to bring the latest, world-class technologies to Hungary.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky acknowledged that Hungary can rely on the support of NATO, but said the country must be able to defend its borders or at least show enough deterrent power to prevent security threats. “That’s why we can’t wait, we can’t delay. The Hungarian armed forces must be in the best state of readiness in the shortest time possible,” he added.

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Surprising: Hungarian minister named this country one of Hungary’s closest military allies

Hungary minister Slovakia Heroes' Square

Slovakia is one of Hungary’s closest allies, and the two countries are dedicated to maintaining close and regular dialogue, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Hungary’s defence minister, said after meeting his counterpart, Jaroslav Nad, in Budapest.

“Slovakia and Hungary are neighbouring countries and our history, culture and the current situation form many ties between us,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. “Also, we are both dedicated NATO allies,” he added. He said he was in agreement with Nad that strengthening NATO’s eastern flank was important. The meeting also covered the discussion of Hungary’s participation, together with the Czech Republic and Poland, of air policing tasks in the skies above Slovakia until Slovakia’s own fighter jets arrive, he added.

They also noted that the Headquarters Multinational Division-Centre (HQ MND-C) in Szekesfehervar, in western Hungary, will soon be headed by a Slovak general. The minister said he had also told Nad about Hungary’s military recruitment push. Members of the young generation are also being appointed officers and gaining experience in international and NATO missions, he said. This strengthens the Hungarian military and allows the country to engage in “more youthful and dynamic” cooperation with its allies, he added.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said he and Nad had also discussed the war in Ukraine. He emphasised that Hungary’s position had not changed since the outbreak of the war. “We are on the side of peace and we’d like there to be peace talks as soon as possible,” he said. Hungary condemns Russia’s aggression against independent Ukraine and stands by Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence, the minister said.

The talks also touched on the situation in the Western Balkans, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, adding he had thanked Nad for the police officers Slovakia had assigned to Hungary’s southern border. Nad welcomed that cooperation between the two countries was problem-free in all areas including defence. He said there were issues on which Slovakia and Hungary were in full agreement and issues on which they were not, adding that those were the issues they needed to reach an agreement on.

He praised the cooperation in the work of the Szekesfehervar-based HQ MND-C. Concerning the war in Ukraine, he said the two countries mutually respected each other’s position and were seeking pragmatic solutions that could help Ukraine defend itself. Meanwhile, he said the agreement on the air policing mission was expected to be signed at the meeting of the Visegrád Group’s defence ministers in the spring.

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Hundreds of high-ranking military officers sacked in Hungary

Hungary Defence Forces NATO ministry

Multiple Hungarian media outlets reported that Hungary’s defence minister sacked hundreds of high-ranking military officers. The people concerned have two months to leave and will get 70 percent of their current salaries as a pension-like allowance even if they continue to work. The minister says the move served the rejuvenation and modernisation of the army. The opposition believes the government fired pro-NATO officers.

Hungarian military officers fired

The ministry of defence began to sack hundreds of high-ranking military officers, including generals and colonels. The decision follows a government decree allowing officers to retire after 25 years in service. It seems, in most cases, the minister and the ministry decide instead of the officers.

The ministry says this move served the aim to modernise the army and pave the way to the rise of a new officer generation. Media reports about more than a hundred generals, colonels and other high-ranking officers sent away. Meanwhile, the former defence secretary and the Democratic Coalition’s MP, Ágnes Vadai, counted around 170 officers on Thursday. She added the officers sent away were pro-NATO. Based on information she acquired from the ministry, the final number can reach one thousand, telex.hu wrote. Political loyalty will be the deciding factor in the Hungarian Defence Forces, she highlighted. The ministry did not answer the questions of Telex.

Defence minister discusses defence cooperation with Serbian counterpart

Hungary and Serbia agree that peace in Ukraine is a priority, and that small and mid-size countries are especially vulnerable to the consequences of the war, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said after meeting Milos Vucevic, his Serbian counterpart, in Belgrade on Friday. The ministers discussed cooperation opportunities between the countries and the ministries.

Hungary has consistently called for a ceasefire and for peace since the war started, Szalay-Bobrovniczky stressed after the talks. At the same time, this is the first time in the history of both countries that they had to react to changing security situations from the east and the south simultaneously, he said. Serbia is “the leading country of the Western Balkans”, and the region faces ongoing security threats, Szalay-Bobrovniczky underlined. Tensions have escalated between Serbia and Kosovo lately, he noted. Hungary supports Serbia’s EU accession because it would aid the stability of the region, he said.

Hungary has sent troops to the region to improve stability, the defence minister said. “Hungary has significant troops in NATO’s mission in Kosovo, and headed the force’s command in the past year,” he explained. The commander’s work “in a very precarious time and place” was praised by the Serbian, Kosovan and international communities, Szalay-Bobrovniczky added. Hungarian troops are also involved in the EU’s mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a Hungarian commander will take over leadership there next year, he added. The ministers discussed the achievements of Hungarian-Serbian defence cooperation as well as future possibilities in the defence industry, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

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Read alsoHungary considers acquiring HIMARS missile systems

Turkey wants to negotiate missile launchers with Hungary

HIMARS missile army

According to press reports, Hungary is also interested in acquiring the US HIMARS missile defence system. Turkey has another idea.

Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said Ankara is ready to discuss the possibility of supplying multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) as an alternative to the US HIMARS missile systems.

Following the eighth meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish Joint Economic Committee held in Budapest on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade presented the Turkish politician with the Hungarian Order of Merit.

“I don’t know whether Hungary is taking steps to procure HIMARS, but I can tell you that we are producing alternative systems in Turkey. If Hungary has a need, we are ready to provide the necessary support,” TGRT quoted Mustafa Varank as saying.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, says Hungary is considering the options for its military to procure weapons. Naturally, Hungary turned first to its NATO allies, including Turkey, index.hu reports.

This weapon has also worked in the possession of the Ukrainian army. “At the moment, there is simply no other modern version of this type of weapon on the market,” a source said.

Gidrán infantry fighting vehicles, Hungarian military factories
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Hungary increases military spendings in 2023

Brave Warrior military drill Hungary

Next year’s budget ensures the continued reform of Hungary’s Armed Forces and will enable the country to bring defence spending up to 2 percent of GDP a year earlier than originally planned, in line with Hungary’s commitment to NATO, the defence minister said on Wednesday.

Hungary’s Defence Fund guarantees that the country will be able to purchase all equipment necessary for effective defence and “restore the prestige of Hungarian troops,” the ministry cited Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky as saying in a statement.

The Armed Forces will prioritise R+D+I, and contribute to a robust economy by boosting the defence industry, he said. In line with NATO requirements, over 20 percent of defence spending will go towards development in 2023, he added.

Next year, development will focus on soldiers’ individual and operational equipment, the integration of the equipment purchased so far, and the introduction of new strike technology, he said.

Defence innovation is in the interest of Hungary’s national security as it eases the country’s dependence on imports and boosts supply security, he said.

Defence development will also improve Hungary’s position within NATO, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, noting that Hungarian Gripens had protected the Baltic airspace for four months this year, and the Kosovo KFOR mission operated under Hungarian command. One of the four task forces set up in response to the Ukraine-Russia war was created in Hungary, under Hungarian command, he added.

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VIDEO: the Italian defence minister travelled to Pápa

Hungary Italy defence minister

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, in Pápa, in western Hungary, on Friday, the defence ministry said.

The two ministers discussed military cooperation, their countries’ participation in NATO’s battle group based in Hungary as well as their experiences in commanding the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, the ministry said.

Speaking about Crosetto’s visit, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank and the establishment of four more battle groups had been one of the alliance’s most important decisions following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

The battle group set up in Hungary with a Hungarian leadership had achieved operational readiness by late September, he said.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Crosetto had visited the Italian forces that make up the second largest contingent within the battle group.

Here is a video:

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Hungarian DefMin: Planned ammunition plant key to ‘innovative, high-tech’ military

Kristóff Szalay-Bobrovniczky

The Hungarian government is building a “brave, innovative and high-tech military”, the defence minister said on Thursday, at the groundbreaking ceremony of an ammunition factory in Várpalota, on Thursday.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the military should be a “self-supporting, independent system”, and such projects as the new plant were instrumental in its development.

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The new plant will supply ammunition for weapons also produced in Hungary, thus “filling a great gap in domestic and European domestic capabilities”, he said.

The ceremony marks the beginning of the construction of a defence industry park with nearly 200 new jobs. The new plant will produce ammunition for Lynx tanks, as well as Leopard 2A7HU and PzH 2000 HU Howitzers from 2024 on, the minister said.

The minister said the Rheinmetall Group would in future supply Hungary with an “arsenal” to equip infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, while the defence industry park’s four square kilometres would incorporate five facilities producing a wide range of ammunitions and explosives for the Hungarian military. He added that large-scale developments in terms of the combat capabilities of the military would not only contribute to the country’s security but would also increase NATO’s stability.

Rheinmetall AG chief Armin Papperger said the new plant, built with a budget of 250-300 million euros, would significantly increase Hungary’s role in ensuring security for the region.

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Read alsoMinister: military equipment made in Hungary boosts security

Minister: military equipment made in Hungary boosts security

Hungary soldier training military

Military equipment manufactured in Hungary helps bolster security, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the signing of a joint venture agreement between the defence ministry and Germany’s Dynamit Nobel Defence in Budapest on Friday.

The joint venture will help start the rebuilding of Hungary’s defence industry which had declined “mainly due to decades of irresponsible political decisions”, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the ceremony. Hungary’s military will now have equipment that will guarantee the security of the Hungarian people, he said.

The minister said the joint venture agreement was the result of years of hard work by many people and a milestone in strengthening Hungary’s military strength and economy. The cooperation between the defence ministry and Dynamit Nobel Defence will create jobs, generate tax revenue and boost the reputation of the Hungarian economy, he added. It will also help prevent any disadvantages from potential supply chain disruptions, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

The agreement was signed by Dynamit Nobel Defence CEO Michael Humbek and László Palkovics, CEO of defence industry innovation holding company N7 Nemzeti Védelmi Ipari Innovation Holding.

Avishay Regev, head of Dynamit Nobel Defence’s supervisory board, praised Hungary’s favourable investment environment and skilled workforce. He said Hungary was led by a government that ensured the protection of its own and the European Union’s borders and was committed to boosting the country’s defence capabilities.

Regev highlighted the cooperation between Germany and Hungary’s armed forces, noting that they used and would continue to use some of the same defence systems.

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Defence minister addresses Berlin Security Conference

Nato Berlin

The world faces a new era of security and defence, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, told the Berlin Security Conference / 21th Congress on European Security and Defence on Thursday, the ministry said.

Threats appear in the form of war from the east and waves of illegal migration from the south, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the event also addressed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

szijjártó
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The strengthening of NATO is a common interest and Hungary’s position is that NATO is a defence alliance of independent states, and the alliance can only be built on strong national defence forces, he added. Hungary is carrying out one of the largest defence force developments in Hungarian history, involving the acquisition of new equipment and greater attention paid to personnel, to create a structurally modern and effective army, he added.

Additionally, developments in the country’s defence industry are aimed at creating a defence ecosystem involving innovation and building links with the international defence industry network, he said.

Hungary is a dedicated and reliable NATO ally, as proven by its participation in international operations, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. Hungary’s participation in international missions is among the highest in NATO, he added.

During his stay in Berlin, Szalay-Bobrovniczky held talks with counterpart Christine Lambrecht, Tobias Lindner, minister of state at the Federal Foreign Office, and several representatives of the Bundestag.

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Hungary Gripens conclude mission policing Baltic airspace

Hungarian fighter jet Gripen

The Gripen fighter jets of the Hungarian airforce have concluded policing Baltic airspace, a task they performed over the past four months as part of a NATO mission.

“The Hungarian airforce’s fighter jets performed their duty in a war-time situation when there is a war in Ukraine and the tension between NATO and Russia is the highest since the cold war,” Gábor Gion, the foreign ministry’s state secretary for strategic analysis, said at the Siauliai airbase in Lithuania on Thursday. As the Hungarian airforce proved its skills in the Baltic Air Policing mission (BAP), Hungary indicated willingness to participate again in 2025, he said.

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BAP Commander Attila Vanyik noted that the current mission has involved 4 Gripens and 77 troops serving as part of the Quick Reaction Alert protocol, with Czech support. Under the protocol, the jets must intercept unidentified aircraft within 15 minutes of receiving an alert.

Vanyik, the mission’s first Hungarian chief, said the Gripens responded to 19 alerts, all due to unidentified Russian planes, including fighter jets and military transport planes, entering international airspace surrounding the Baltic airspace without submitting a flight-plan.

Answering a question, he said the Russian planes often used the narrow Baltic Sea corridor of the St Petersburg-Kaliningrad route.

Hungary has already participated in the mission in 2015 and 2019.

Hungarian Gripen Russia
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Hungary building a strong national army

Hungarian Army Ukraine

The defence industry is essential not just because it creates jobs and helps the economy, but also because it guarantees security, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for international communication and relations, on his podcast on Wednesday.

“We may want to recall the moments when the Berlin Wall fell and we found ourselves with a Soviet-doctrine, unpopular mass army equipped with Soviet technology,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on The Bold Truth About Hungary. Then over a period of two decades, “mainly due to the negligence of the left-wing governments”, Hungary’s army was “completely ruined”, the minister said. The equipment was neglected and sold, and the military was reduced in numbers, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, adding that conscription was abolished soon after Hungary joined NATO.

This, he said, meant that Hungary had been left with a military made up of volunteers without a reservist system in place. Finally, in 2016, the government launched a military development scheme, he noted. Put to him that military development had been criticised by both the Hungarian opposition and the European left, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the progressive left had predicted that armies and NATO itself would eventually become obsolete following an emergence of world peace.

But the defence industry is essential, not just because it creates jobs and promotes further economic growth, but also because it ensures more favourable and competitive prices, the minister said. It is even more important in terms of security, because this way Hungary is not forced to rely on foreign suppliers and can procure equipment from its own defence industry, he added.

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Read alsoStrong defence industry is in Hungary’s interest, defence minister says

As regards NATO, Kovács said that while many believed that the alliance was “an existing force itself” that would come to the aid of its member states, it was actually a joint effort of its member countries. “NATO is us, clearly, so. That is one of the reasons why we are building a strong national army, because that can be the only contribution, and if other nations do so — as they do, they all build strong national armies — then together we can count on each other,” the minister said.

As regards the Russia-Ukraine war, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary was “entering a new phase of development”, based on the lessons being learned from that conflict. This, he said, was aimed at the introduction of the most advanced technologies and bringing the various components together to form a strong national army.

“The real goal is, of course, deterrence, to show enough force — both physical equipment and determination — which means experienced, brave, well-skilled, well-paid good soldiers combined, he said.” This, he added, could show “enough deterrence to any potential opponent who wants to attack Hungary, and with that, NATO”.

The Hungarian military will do everything in its power to protect its citizens and borders, but incidents like the stray missile hit in Poland cannot be totally ruled out, he said, stressing the importance of “strategic calm”.

israeli radar system ELM-2084 MS-MMR
Read alsoVIDEO: Israeli radar system to arrive in Hungary next year

VIDEO: Israeli radar system to arrive in Hungary next year

israeli radar system ELM-2084 MS-MMR

The government is strengthening Hungary’s defence with an Israeli radar system, Magyar Nemzet wrote in its Monday edition.

According to the article, a world-class Israeli radar system will be in service with the Hungarian Defence Forces next year. The system is capable of detecting and tracking air and artillery targets. Already proven as part of Israel’s Iron Dome (Vaskupola) air defence system, the Hungarian defence industry will also be involved in the production of some of the locator units.

The arrival of the radar system was announced by Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. He announced it after talks with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz in Jerusalem. According to Magyar Nemzet, the Hungarian Defence Minister said that the two countries have long had close and excellent relations in the field of defence, 24.hu writes.

He added that the defence industry is regarded as the latest engine of the Hungarian economy. The Hungarian defence industry already has significant Israeli links, he said. The minister was referring to the fact that the Hungarian Defence Forces also regularly use Spike guided anti-tank missiles from the Rafael company.

The contract for the eleven ELM-2084 air surveillance, air defence and artillery reconnaissance radars was signed in December 2020 by General Ferenc Korom, then Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and Stéphane Oehrli, CEO of Rheinmetall Canada Inc., in the framework of the Zrínyi Defence and Force Development Programme. The equipment, which incorporates the Israeli company IAI ELTA’s “active phase-guided” (AESA) radar technology, will replace the old Soviet P-37, PRV-17 and SZT-68U radars of the Defence Forces, the article reads.

Check out a video of the radar below:

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