military

Hungarian man arrested for smuggling U.S. military devices to Russia

A Hungarian man has been arrested in San Francisco on suspicion of conspiring to illegally export 200 U.S. military radio communication devices to Russian government entities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., as reported by 444.

On Monday, a 46-year-old man named Bence Horváth was detained in San Francisco. He is accused of “conspiring with others to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end users without authorisation,” as reported by various news outlets.

The gravity of the case is highlighted by the fact that officials from five different agencies were involved in announcing the arrest. These include U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Affairs Matthew Olsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Eric DeLaune, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Field Office of HSI, Darrin K. Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Regional Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Trey McClish, and Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Regional Office of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Controls.

Horváth and his associates are believed to have begun negotiations in January 2023 with a small U.S. radio distribution company. Their objective was to purchase and export U.S.-made military-grade radios and related accessories to Russia.

In the months that followed, Horváth successfully acquired 200 military-grade radios, which he intended to ship to Russia via a Latvian transport service. However, the attempt was thwarted when U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the shipment, preventing the radios from reaching Russian users.

Horváth accused of smuggling military radios via international network

arrest, police, handcuffs, military — Photo: Pixabay

According to the prosecutor’s statement, Horváth was arrested on 23 August 2024, upon his arrival at San Francisco International Airport. Authorities allege that Horváth, along with others, managed a multinational procurement network that worked directly with various Russian government agencies. This network was involved in large-scale projects, such as constructing operational radio communications systems in Russia’s Kursk region near the Russian-Ukrainian border, as reported by 444.

Horváth is said to have personally arranged the purchase and smuggling of U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end-users, utilising a network of subsidiaries in Spain, Serbia, Hungary, and Latvia.

“The indictment alleges that the defendant attempted to purchase military-grade radios for Russian organisations using a multinational supply chain to evade law enforcement,” said Deputy Attorney General Olsen. “The Department of Justice remains committed to dismantling and prosecuting the criminal networks that continue to fuel Russian aggression abroad and threaten our collective security.” Further details of the investigation remain unknown.

Featured image: depositphotos.com

Read also:

Russia may build a third nuclear power plant in Hungary by 2035 – read more HERE
Russians and Belarusians flooding the EU with Hungary’s help? – here’s the minister’s answer

August 29, 2024

Flag raised at Hungarian Parliament under military honours

Hungary’s national flag was raised under military honours at an event attended by President Tamás Sulyok at the Hungarian Parliament to mark the 20 August national holiday.

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told the event that “some forces today expect to gain profits and power from war” but Hungarians want peace and “our generation” gets its share of the efforts to defend the country.

“No country and nation can neglect this, the most important duty to itself, because any country and nation can only exist if it defends its borders, citizens, faith, language and culture,” he added.

The event was also attended by House Speaker László Kövér, government members and representatives of state and military organisations.

An air parade was held by the Hungarian military over the river Danube after the event.

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August 20, 2024

100kg WWII Soviet bomb found near Budapest

An unexploded Soviet bomb weighing 100 kilos has been found during construction work in a local street in Nagytarcsa, east of Budapest, the Hungarian Armed Forces said on Monday.

Soviet bomb found

The device was disassembled by an explosives expert at the scene and taken to a central army depo, the army said on Facebook.

Earlier this month, a similar WWII bomb was found in the Danube river in Esztergom, in northern Hungary. The device was disassembled at the scene and taken to the central depo.

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August 12, 2024

The Hungarian Armed Forces sending help for EUFOR

The Hungarian Armed Forces is sending a modern Airbus H225M helicopter to perform transport tasks within the framework of EUFOR, the EU’s mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Zsolt Kutnyánszky, the state secretary for defence policy and army development, said in a camp in Butmir, near Sarajevo, that the Airbus will replace an Mi-17 helicopter serving in EUFOR. The Airbus has recently finished a mission fighting wildfires in Macedonia, and will be ready for deployment in the Butmir camp within two months, he said.

Speaking to the troops serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kutnyanszky said their place of deployment, the Western Balkans, was key to European peace. The performance of the Hungarian troops, the largest contingent in EUFOR, is exemplary, he said.

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Hungarian firefighters join action in North Macedonia wildfires – PHOTOS

August 7, 2024

Former minister left Hungarian arms industry giant N7

The national economy ministry will exercise the state’s ownership rights in N7 Holding National Defence Industry Innovation Company from August 1, the ministry said on Thursday.

The ownership rights were earlier exercised by the defence ministry. The change is in line with the government strategy to achieve a more organic integration of the defence industry and related R+D activities into the national economy, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said one of the main goals was to ensure that defence industry companies, in cooperation with strategic partners, are able to meet the future development needs of the Hungarian Armed Forces and enter the international market, thereby guaranteeing the industry’s long-term future.

It said the development of a competitive defence industry was a matter of sovereignty and a priority strategic goal. The ministry also noted the defence industry’s growing contribution to Hungary’s economic growth.

Hungarian minister Palkovics resigns — László Palkovics (c) Photo: facebook.com/tim.gov.hu

Ferenc Antal, an economist and lawyer who was earlier manager at Deloitte Switzerland’s advisory practice, has been appointed CEO of N7 as of August 1. His task will be to develop and implement the corporate governance principles that ensure successful operation along the lines of Hungary’s defence industry strategy, the ministry said. The former CEO was László Palkovics, Hungary’s innovation and technology minister, who left with mutual agreement.

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Hungarian Defence Minister: Hungary to become self-sufficient in production of 30mm shells – read more HERE
Hungarian military plane disappeared in Africa!

August 1, 2024

Hungarian Defence Minister: Hungary to become self-sufficient in production of 30mm shells

Hungary will be self-sufficient from now on in the production of 30mm medium-calibre shells, Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the official inauguration of Rheinmetall’s ammunition plant in Várpalota, in western Hungary, on Monday.

Hungarian Defence Minister talks bout self-sufficiency

Hungarian Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said few ammunition plants in Europe matched the one in Várpalota in quality, adding that the plant will also make ammunition for the armoured infantry fighting vehicles manufactured in Zalaegerszeg.

The plant in Várpalota will guarantee the quality of Hungary’s defence industry, as well as the safety of those living in the area, while also creating a lot of new jobs, the minister said. Some 50 people will be working at the factory, but headcount will increase to several hundred as production ramps up, he added.

The plant will be expanded with further elements over the coming months and years, and will also manufacture 155mm calibre artillery shells in addition to 120mm tank ammunition, he said.

The Hungarian Defence Minister said the Russia-Ukraine war had demonstrated that “nothing is as important as having everything needed for battle at our disposal.”

“Cutting-edge technology is indispensable, but not enough to fight successfully, but if there’s ammunition, there’s also success,” the minister said.

He said Europe had recognised that it could not remain idle, but had to completely rebuild its defence industry capacities, and specifically ammunition production. The supply of ammunition to Ukraine by European countries, he added, had significantly reduced their strategic munitions reserves, and the European defence industry could barely keep up with the increased demand.

Hungarian Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary was also ahead of “its European Union friends and allies”, arguing that the plans for the Várpalota plant had been completed well before the start of the war and construction had gotten under way quickly. This, he added, had resulted in the emergence of a defence industry in Hungary in the form of factories employing “a Hungarian workforce with high-tech knowledge” which greatly reduced the country’s military dependence.

Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall’s chairman and chief executive, said the company was planning to export not just medium calibre ammunition, but also calibres up to 155mm globally. He said the Várpalota plant is capable of producing more than 240,000 rounds of tank ammunition a year.

He said the 30mm calibre ammunition plant was a 300 million euro investment, but Rheinmetall is investing a total of half a billion euros in Várpalota through a German-Hungarian joint venture, as it will have to fulfill a 54 billion euro order stock.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

July 30, 2024

Hungary offers evacuation capacity to EU Battlegroup

hungarian airforce aircraft plane hungary eu battlegroup

Hungary has offered strategic air medical evacuation capacity consisting of an Airbus 319 aircraft and flight and health-care personnel to the Polish-led EUBG battle group, the Hungarian Armed Forces said on Saturday.

hungarian airforce aircraft plane hungary — An aircraft of the Hungarian Airforce. Photo: Daily News Hungary/Mercédesz Hetzmann

The aircraft and staff will not be an active participant in the battle group but prepared to fly 200 hours as supporting capacity in the second half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, the press secretary of Brigadier General Csaba Ugrik said. The capacity will be stationed in Hungary, he added.

hungarian airforce csaba ugrik eu battlegroup — Brigadier General Csaba Ugrik (right). Photo: MTI/Ujvári Sándor

If necessary, the aircraft will be used to support EUBG operations in strategic airborne medical evacuation tasks, he said, entailing the evacuation of wounded soldiers to Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava or other airports, the armed forces said.

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July 6, 2024

Hungarian military plane disappeared in Africa!

There is secrecy surrounding the Africa mission of the Hungarian Airbus A-319 military plane frequently used by FM Péter Szijjártó. The plane’s beacon was switched off and nobody knows where it flew with potentially 140 people on board.

Hungarian military plane disappeared over Africa

According to 24.hu, the Hungarian Defence Forces’ Airbus A-319 was sent on a secret mission to Africa on 5 June and disappeared for three days. The plane took off from the Kecskemét military airport, but nobody knows how many people were on board.

We know only the plane’s capacity, which is 140. We know its beacon was switched off in Tunisia’s airspace while heading south. The radar found it only three days later, flying back from Tunisia’s southern border region to Kecskemét. You may check out a photo of the plane in THIS article.

The Hungarian media outlet sent questions to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence but received no answer. 24.hu wanted to know whether the plane’s mission was somehow related to the Orbán cabinet’s planned Chad mission, which the parliament approved last year.

Hungary would like to send soldiers to Chad

Based on the plans, the Hungarian military would send 200 officers to the unstable Central African country to protect multiple Hungarian development projects and help train local forces. Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, said there was no exact schedule for the mission earlier this month.

Interestingly, Chad is where PM Viktor Orbán’s only son, Captain Gáspár Orbán, travelled with FM Péter Szijjártó multiple times to take part in negotiations with local strongmen.

Orbán Jr on the hunt for raw materials in Africa?

Based on information acquired by Vsquare from the inner circles of the government, the Chad mission is Captain Orbán’s idea. He convinced the decision-makers that they could acquire uranium and crude oil in the Central African country.

However, hvg.hu says Hungary does not have the means and technology to utilise these raw materials. Therefore, Hungary would need Russian help for processing the materials.

PM Orbán’s son tried to disguise himself in Chad:

And even hid behind coloumns (but the hat is the same):

French-American request

Meanwhile, Világgazdaság wrote that sending Hungarian troops to Chad was the idea of the French, and the Americans approved it after their troops had to leave the country. Hungary would have taken part in the so-called Takuba-Barkhane in West Africa with 16 European NATO members. The mission never began, but the French requested Hungary’s presence in the Chad mission.

Since Chad is vital to the USA, such a request required the approval of Washington. Világgazdaság wrote that based on their information, only Hungary got a similar request from Paris (and probably the Americans).

Orbán Macron France — Orbán and Macron: together in Africa? Photo: facebook.com/orbanviktor

A reason might be that Budapest is the only European NATO member still maintaining some form of contact with Moscow. Putin had a strong positions in Chad. Furthermore, the Central African Republic even got a military base used by soldiers of the late Wagner.

Explosion close to the future Hungarian military camp

Minister Gulyás could not tell when the first Hungarian soldiers would arrive in the war-torn country. But 168.hu wrote their campsite would be close to the recently blown up ammunition depo.

On Friday, the Hungarian government announced that Budapest would extend the Hungary Helps Programme to civilians wounded in an explosion of an ammunition depot in N’Djamena, and to the capital city’s central hospital. The Hungarian government opened a complex humanitarian and development centre in the capital of Chad in January this year to strengthen the stability of the Sahel, MTI wrote.

Hungary helps Chad — Azbej Tristan leaving Chad. Who will be the one to come back? Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan

Read also:

Courting Macron? Orbán helps Chad, one of the world’s poorest and least democratic countries – Read more HERE
PM Orbán’s only son, Captain Orbán serves in an African country – Details in THIS article

June 23, 2024

Is PM Orbán’s son helping the Russian military intelligence?

Orbán's only son serves in African country Orbán's son

The visits of Orbán’s son, Gáspár Orbán, to Chad and Niger, both with Russian ties, raise concerns about his role as a conduit between the Kremlin and Europe. Reports suggest potential involvement in uranium deals to bolster Russian influence and counter French presence in Africa.

Investigation about Orbán’s son

As HírKlikk writes, VSquare, Direkt36 and Le Monde are set to unveil together the truth behind the military mission of Orbán’s son in Chad. The news sites have found that Viktor Orbán’s son, operating from within the Carmelite, has reportedly played a significant role in establishing a national security body akin to the US President’s National Security Council, despite lacking official authority. He has been involved in organising the military mission in Chad and is assisting the prime minister’s newly appointed chief national security adviser, all under a veil of secrecy. His responsibilities extend to foreign policy, diplomacy and potentially trade.

An alleged mission?

As VSquare has reported, the alleged mission of Orbán’s son, Gáspár Orbán, in Chad, focused on “terrorism and migration control,” is seen by some as a pretext, with suspicions arising that Hungary aims to establish a military intelligence centre in the region. Allegations suggest Russian influence, possibly encouraged by Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister active in Africa. With the French and Americans withdrawing from Chad and Niger, the geopolitical landscape in the region is shifting. A Central European government official told VSquare:

What we’ve heard is that the Hungarian government also intends to establish a military intelligence centre in Chad, which concerns us. Since Prigozhin’s death and the disintegration of the Wagner group, Russia has lost some influence in Africa. We fear that this Hungarian military intelligence center could potentially serve Russian interests, and I suspect Kremlin officials like Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s main face in Africa, encouraged the Hungarians.

The real objective of the mission

Reports suggest that Orbán’s interest lies in gaining access to Chad’s uranium reserves to aid Russian interests, potentially ousting French influence. Orbán’s son, Gáspár Orbán, is seen as a key link between Budapest and Moscow, raising concerns about sensitive data leakage from the EU and NATO to Russia. The report speculates on joint operations between the Orbán regime and Russian military intelligence, suggesting a potential escalation in Hungary’s actions. HírKlikk notes that if this shocking information is true, we can rightfully fear Hungary’s aggressive steps in Europe and beyond. In addition, the Hungarian capital is potentially involved in the European operations of the Russian military intelligence service GRU.

Read also:

May 17, 2024

Hungarian Minister of Defence: Two more Airbus H225M helicopters added to Hungarian fleet

Two new Airbus H225M helicopters have been delivered to the Hungarian armed forces from Airbus Helicopters in France, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister said on Monday.

The craft arrived at MH József Kiss 86th Helicopter Brigade airbase in Szolnok on Monday afternoon, a ministry statement said.

The parachute and airborne capabilities of the armed forces will be further enhanced thanks to the craft’s high-tech equipment, the minister said.

There are now eight Airbus H225M helicopters in Hungary, half the country’s entire H225M fleet.

The first helicopters were delivered in July 2023, and related equipment has been arriving continuously ever since.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted the recent purchase of four new Gripen fighter jets and a new SAAB centre of excellence using augmented reality technology. Also, pilots were given a big wage increase at the start of the year, he noted.

Read also:

May 14, 2024

FM Szijjártó: NATO had begun to “blur its own red lines”

New York Young Republicans Club Hungarian foreign minister Szijjártó

Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, has said he expects an “elemental struggle” in connection with a proposal by NATO regarding a mission in Ukraine in the coming weeks, underlining, however, that Hungary did not want to train Ukrainian soldiers or deliver weapons to its north-eastern neighbour despite the “enormous pressure” it was under to do so.

Szijjártó about NATO

Addressing a meeting of ruling Fidesz’s parliamentary group on Monday, Szijjártó said NATO had begun to “blur its own red lines” that said the alliance was not party to the war in Ukraine and that everything possible had to be done to prevent a direct confrontation with Russia.

“And now … the secretary general felt that it would also be worthwhile for NATO to do something, because we can’t have NATO just sitting around for two years with only its member states and the European Union taking the steps that endanger global security,” Szijjártó said.

The minister said NATO wanted to step up its coordination of weapons deliveries and the training of Ukrainian troops, and was planning to approve a 100 billion euro aid package. “Hungary, however, doesn’t want to take part in this in any form,” he added.

“We want to stay out of this completely,” Szijjártó said. He said Hungary wanted its soldiers to be exempt from participating in such a mission and did not want “anything relating to these types of operations happening on Hungary’s territory”. Neither does Hungary want any of its taxpayers’ money to be used for the mission, he added.

Hungary, he said, was under intense pressure to take part in the mission, pointing out that the other two NATO countries that had been on the fence had been persuaded to join the common position, and Hungary was now on its own.

“Everyone has been sucked in, and we’re on our own. And we’ll be completely alone in the battles in the coming weeks,” he said.

Szijjártó said work was already underway in Brussels on putting together the “hinterland” of the operation. “And we’re being pushed in,” he insisted. “We’ve more or less succeeded in getting them to accept, politically, that we don’t want to participate in this, but as I see it, they want to at least try to push us into the financial side of the story.”

“Now they’re trying to put pressure on us by saying, ‘fine, no Hungarian soldiers or even [the use of ] Hungarian territory, but there has to be money’,” Szijjarto said. “And there we have the battle of the weeks ahead: no to all three.”

Meanwhile, Szijjarto said NATO did not want to set a precedent for a member state staying out of a military operation. He lamented that Western political leaders were showing no signs of backing out of weapons deliveries even though it had become clear that the conflict could not be settled on the battlefield.

“Everyone in Europe has been ordered to give everything they have … no matter how it may harm their own security,” the minister said.

The clear position “in NATO circles today”, he said, was that allies needed to help Ukraine even at the risk of hurting their own security. He cited the example of Slovakia, which had not been compensated on time for giving all of its military planes to Ukraine, and its airspace was now being policed by Hungary and Czechia.

“If we Hungarians and the Czechs didn’t guarantee the protection of Slovakia’s airspace, then their only air defence capability would be to angrily shake their fists up at the sky,” Szijjártó said.

He said that because weapons deliveries were “only enough to uphold the status quo”, the only way out was to involve NATO by sending troops and “causing a world war”.

Szijjártó said another scenario would involve the use of nuclear weapons, “of which even one is enough to settle the fate of the world, and there are thousands of them on both sides”.

szijjártó in switzerland — Photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter

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May 13, 2024

International military exercise to be held in Hungary

The Swift Response 2024 international military exercise in Pápa, in north-western Hungary, will demonstrate speed and deployability, the deputy commander of the Pápa airbase said on Monday.

Swift Response 2024 is part of a higher-level NATO exercise and involves some 4,500 troops, Lt. Col. Lajos Turzó told a press conference. It is being organised under the leadership of the German division.

The exercise in Hungary will see the participation of German and Dutch soldiers, who will then take part in a paratrooper exercise near Turda (Torda) and Cincu (Nagysink), in central Romania.

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May 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Chinese President Xi Jinping received with military honours in Budapest

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his spouse Peng Liyuan were received with military honours in Buda Castle on Thursday.

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and their wives greeted Xi and Peng Liyuan ahead of a military ceremony on the second day of their official visit to Hungary.

Xi and Sulyok then viewed a ceremonial parade of the Ceremonial Battalion of the Hungarian Armed Forces, the National Ceremonial Equestrian Unit and the Count Ferenc Nadasdy Hussar Regiment.

After the parade, President Sulyok received Xi and his delegation in the Sándor Palace.

Peng attended cultural programmes in the St Stephen Hall with First Lady Zsuzsanna Nagy.

Xi will stay in Hungary until Friday, on an official visit marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

xi jinping in budapest — Photo: MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd

xi jinping budapest — Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán

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May 9, 2024

PHOTOS, VIDEO: World’s largest plane lands in Hungary twice: what did it bring?

The people of Pápa, Western Hungary, were puzzled when the largest plane in the world, the An-124-100 Ruslan, landed on the runway of the nearby airport, not only once, but twice. According to some, the plane did not arrive empty.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, 21 April, a Flightradar user spotted a rarely-seen military aircraft giant arriving in Hungary. On the public radar, an Antonov-124-100 Ruslan aircraft appeared. It did not just fly over Hungarian airspace: it even landed, twice, Világgazdaság reports.

About Pápa airport

The 47th Base Airfield of the Hungarian Defence Forces is located in Pápa, one of the three Hungarian-operated military airfields in Hungary (besides Szolnok and Kecskemét). Papa is the only active military air base in Western Hungary.

The arrival of the aircraft was perhaps best captured by the LHPA Spotter Team:

The largest plane: Antonov-124-100 Ruslan aircraft

According to Világgazdaság, the giant aircraft of the Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines is quite active. A few days ago, it was flying from Poland to England, but it also flew the Tel Aviv-Leipzig route. It does not fly to Hungary very often, however, it is not unprecedented for it to make a stopover. In September 2018, for example, it brought four refurbished Mi-24 combat helicopters to Szolnok.

Antonov Airlines is a Ukrainian cargo airline. It provides a specialised service, transporting oversized cargo from A to B on the international market.

It is not known exactly what the aircraft brought to Pápa, but it may well have something to do with NATO’s SALIS programme. This is a joint strategic air transport arrangement in which a total of nine member countries participate to jointly lease An-124-100 aircraft to support national, NATO and EU operations and missions. The nine countries are Hungary, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Watch the world’s largest plane begin its landing in Pápa, Hungary below:

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April 23, 2024

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungary welcomes first KC-390 military transport aircraft

The first Hungarian KC-390 military transport aircraft has arrived in Hungary, announced Zsolt Kutnyánszky, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence responsible for Defence Policy, Force Development and Defence Industry, in Kecskemét on 12 April.

At a press conference held at the Kecskemét airbase, the politician said that the Hungarian Defence Forces are going through a period of transformation and technical renewal, the Hungarian Defence Forces reported on their website. He added that thanks to the Force Development Programme, the Defence Forces are equipped with the most modern equipment.

Hungary to acquire two KC-390 aircraft

The Minister of State stressed that air policing and air defence are of paramount importance, which is why the modernisation of the air force is a top priority in the development period. He said that this year, the Hungarian Defence Forces will acquire two Embraer KC-390 aircraft, which are scheduled to arrive in Hungary at the end of the year or next year, and one of them is currently in Kecskemét for three weeks, in the final phase of the testing period.

Zsolt Kutnyánszky drew attention to the need for well-trained soldiers in addition to the equipment purchased. The Hungarian Defence Forces is proud of its soldiers, “the pilots of the air force are among the best”, he stressed. The State Secretary also said that the Hungarian government is rewarding the pilots of the Hungarian Air Force and the responsible work of air traffic control specialists with a significant allowance increase.

“It’s good to be a soldier now”

The most experienced pilots can receive a monthly gross allowance of around HUF 2.5-3 million (EUR 6,350-7,620), said Zsolt Kutnyánszky. He added that this is a good opportunity to join the Hungarian Defence Forces, and said that “it is good to be a soldier now”. He stressed that he was confident that the incoming military equipment and the new combat procedures would make the armed forces even more attractive to young people.

Zsolt Kutnyánszky said that the new KC-390 transport aircraft can accommodate 80 equipped soldiers, as well as beds for intensive care patients. The aircraft can carry up to 26 tonnes of payload, parachute it to its destination, and it can also refuel in the air, the State Secretary said.

He added that the plane is 35 metres long, can fly at a speed of 800 kilometres per hour, and its cruising altitude can reach 8000 metres.

KC-390 undergoes testing, will return to Brazil

“The aircraft will undergo ground and flight tests as a final stage in the production process. After the installation and testing of NATO communication equipment, the aircraft will return to Brazil. Its official handover, including its entry into the Hungarian register, is expected in the second half of the year,” the Hungarian Defence Forces shared on their Facebook page.

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April 13, 2024

First Embraer C-390 aircraft of Hungarian military to arrive tomorrow

Embraer C-390 kc-390 at Paris Air Show 2019

Hungary’s first Embraer C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft will arrive in the country on Friday for three weeks of testing at the Kecskemét air base, the defence minister has said.

After its first flight on 8 February, the C-390 manufactured in Brazil for Hungary is now in the final phase of its testing schedule, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told MTI on Thursday, adding that the aircraft will be brought to Kecskemét for ground and air testing.

Hungary’s first Embraer C-390 Millennium to arrive tomorrow

The final testing stage involves the installation and assessment of NATO communications devices, after which the aircraft will return to Brazil for the finishing works, the minister said.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky noted that the aircraft was not yet flying under Hungarian registration, with its official inauguration set for the autumn.

The Hungarian Armed Forces has ordered two Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft this year to replace its An-26s.

With a payload capacity of up to 26 tonnes, the new C-390 will be suitable for air refuelling and transporting beds for patients in need of intensive care and those injured.

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April 11, 2024

Insight into the production process of the Lynx combat vehicle in Hungary – photos

Production process of the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle while visiting the Rheinmetall plant in Zalaegerszeg. Photo: hmzrinyi.hu

The personnel of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade got a unique insight into the domestic production process of the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle while visiting the Rheinmetall plant in Zalaegerszeg on 3 April.

A cornerstone of the National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program’s success—besides procuring state-of-the-art equipment to meet the challenges of the age—is the renewal of the Hungarian defence industry that guarantees the continuity and sustainability of long-term armed forces development, writes Honvedelem.hu. A basis and citadel of this is the Zalaegerszeg-based Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt., which rolled out the first KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle in late 2023, within three years after the ground-breaking ceremony. Read also: Rheinmetall plant inaugurated in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary – details, PHOTOS

“As a result of the newest manufacturing and product technologies applied by the expert Hungarian staff, state-of-the-art vehicles are being handed over to the Hungarian Defence Forces. To get a view of performance and possible future developments, it is important to understand the complexity, modularity, and testing processes of next-generation vehicle types”—emphasized Andreas Baumeier, chief operations officer of Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. regarding the significance of production.

The soldiers from Hódmezővásárhely had the opportunity to learn about the details of the production during their visit to the Hungarian plant of Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt., which is unique in size and applied particular technologies in Europe and within the Rheinmetall Group. Besides learning about quality control built into the production process, they had the opportunity to see how the newest welding, machining, internal logistics, and final assembly technologies are applied.

Another important part of the tasks at the plant is related to post-production service and training. This includes the maintenance of delivered vehicles, the repair of vehicles, equipment, and components, the developments based on user feedback, the installation of new components for future developments, and related training. These upgrades are possible because of the modular construction of the Lynx, which provides mechanical and electronic growing potential for decades.

Producing infantry fighting vehicles labelled as “the crown jewel of the Hungarian armed forces development” is not the only aim. Utilizing the fighting vehicle family’s modular construction, other variants of the vehicle will also be produced in Hungary, such as the field ambulance, reconnaissance, and command vehicle types, among others. The first units of the latter two are planned to be delivered in 2025.

The third distinguished component of the company’s profile – besides production and development – is testing. The test tracks of the premises built for this purpose are varied and thus contribute to spotting all kinds of developmental or technical malfunctions before handover. Besides mobility testing equipment, climatic chamber, EMC chamber and underground life-saving firing tunnel tests are also used in the plant in Zalaegerszeg to guarantee the highest quality possible.

“It was good to hear that other military equipment is planned to be produced and developed here in the future. I think that it will only benefit the Hungarian Defence Forces”

Private Csaba Walter summarized the visit. He also mentioned that his application to the Lynx pilot program was primarily motivated by the modernity of the fighting vehicle. Therefore, the fact that he is among the future operators of the combat vehicle type produced in Zalaegerszeg has added a lot to the experience of the factory visit.

read also: First Hungarian-made Lynx rolls off production line

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April 9, 2024

PHOTOS: Powerful modern Israeli defence radar erected in Hungary

A cutting-edge Israeli-made radar system has been recently installed near Veszprém, in the quaint town of Kup in Western Hungary, as part of a comprehensive modernisation initiative within the Hungarian Defence Forces. These radars, also integral to the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system, boast continuous aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

The purchase is part of the Hungarian Defence Development Programme

The Hungarian Defence Forces purchased eleven ELM-2084 mobile radars as part of a Defence and Military Development Programme launched in 2020, Magyar Nemzet writes. The agreement was signed by Colonel-General Ferenc Korom of the Hungarian Defence Forces and Stéphane Oehrli, the president and CEO of Rheinmetall Canada Inc.

Rheinmetall Canada, a subsidiary of the German military conglomerate, already holds ties to the Hungarian defence industry. Notably, Canada presently deploys Israeli equipment within its territories.

Further agreements were reached in late 2022 by Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Hungary’s Defence Minister, and Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz regarding this acquisition, as reported by Telex.

In the same year, Szalay-Bobrovniczky talked to Telex about the Hungarian government’s resolute aim to fortify national forces and align fully with NATO’s mandate of allocating 2 percent of GDP to military expenditures. Emphasising the imperatives of national security and military preparedness, he underscored that

“we must also be prepared for all eventualities until the peace negotiations [between Russia and Ukraine – ed.] begin.”

New radars to be tested in Western Hungary

Beyond the replacement of old Soviet-made P-37, PRV-17 and SZT-68U radio locators with the Israeli IAI ELTA’s highly sophisticated radar technology, the parties agreed to further strengthen industrial cooperation in the future. According to plans, the production and final assembly of select military equipment could be moved to Hungarian factories specialised in air defence.

“The new devices come in various configurations, so in addition to airspace surveillance and gap-filling roles, they will also be suitable for air defence and artillery projectile reconnaissance tasks”

– lhsn.hu (Légi Huszárok Szolnok, a group reporting on the everyday life of the helicopter brigade in the city of Szolnok) writes on Facebook.

The locators are capable of providing real-time, three-dimensional aerial situation pictures even in harsh conditions or in case of electronic interference. Encompassing a 360-degree coverage spanning a radius of up to 470 kilometres, these radars can process data pertaining to up to 1,100 airborne targets and coordinate interceptors through their sophisticated data link systems.

Furthermore, the artillery systems integrated into the ELM-2084 are primed for directing counter-offensives when necessary.

Apart from Hungary, both the Slovakian and Czech armies have opted to integrate this system into their defence forces. Globally, nations such as Canada, Singapore, Finland, Vietnam, India and naturally, Israel with its Iron Dome, utilise the capabilities of the ELM-2084 radar system.

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israel iron dome radar — Photo: The Iron Dome in Israel. Wikimedia Commons / IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Photos: Ákos Balogh/lhsn.hu

March 29, 2024