military

Russia’s alleged recruitment of Hungarian mercenaries: Illegal activities uncovered?

Army Man Military Soldier Russia

An allegedly Hungarian pro-Russia group has been recruiting Hungarian mercenaries through Russian social media with promises of high salaries, citizenship and social support in exchange for fighting against Ukraine.

The so-called Legion of Saint Stephen (Szent István Légiója) began recruiting mercenaries for the Russian military in September 2023, as reported by Blikk. While their invitation is open to all nationalities, Hungarians enjoy priority in admission. The group offers a high salary, though not specifying details on the exact amount, and citizenship for Hungarians upon joining the Russian military ranks.

In one of their posts, they addressed potential recruits:

“Dear Friends, we are once again starting the recruitment of volunteers. […] Combat experience is welcome, though not mandatory; we will teach you everything.”

The Legion had previously engaged in recruitment efforts for Russia in 2014 – but their authenticity is questionable

Lakmusz mentions references to the group as early as 2014, allegedly mobilising Hungarians to partake in conflicts within Eastern Ukraine. However, it remained uncertain at the time whether they were an actual battalion made up of Hungarians or simply a creation of the Russian propaganda machine.

The Legion’s social media profile remained active over the years. However, in 2023, they intensified efforts to recruit individuals for the war cause, primarily through the Russian social media platform Vkontakte and various Telegram channels. Vkontakte has attracted a significant number of Hungarian users expressing pro-Russian sentiments; Lakmusz’s 2023 investigation revealed that the Legion boasted approximately 7,000 followers and nearly 30,000 posts on the platform.

In addition to recruitment activities, as detailed by Blikk, the Legion shares updates on the Ukrainian conflict (from a distinctly pro-Russian standpoint) while also posting occasionally about Budapest’s splendour, dubbing it the “jewel box of Europe,” and highlighting King Matthias.

Serving in foreign military is a crime in Hungary

It’s worth noting that serving in foreign militaries constitutes a criminal offence in Hungary. According to the Hungarian Civil Code, Hungarian citizens participating in foreign armed groups or recruiting others for such endeavours can face imprisonment for up to five years. In a notable case, a former police officer who enlisted in the Russian military in 2014 received a two-year suspended sentence upon returning to Hungary.

Furthermore, Lakmusz’s findings reveal that since 2018, several individuals linked to the Legion of Saint Stephen have been sought by authorities for illegal recruitment into foreign military activities. According to Blikk, two Hungarian men associated with the group, identifiable in pictures on the organisation’s social media, are wanted by police for their alleged involvement in the conflict in Donetsk in 2018.
However, security policy expert István Gyarmati underscores to the magazine that while there may be a limited number of Hungarian mercenaries fighting on the side of the Russians in the war, precise figures remain elusive.

Read more:

Putin likes this: PM Orbán says sending Western troops to Ukraine staggering idea – Read HERE

Orbán cabinet: Ending Russia-Ukraine war Hungary’s fundamental interest – HERE

Licence plate controversy reveals tense Hungary-US relations

Hungary new licence plates

The Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office deliberately thwarted efforts to give American soldiers’ US-made cars local licence plates to gain political leverage on the United States government, report claims.

American soldiers stationed in Hungary have not gotten licence plates since 2021

US Ambassador David Pressman sanctions
Photo: FB/US Embassy

In a recent speech at the Central European University, Budapest, the American Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, criticised the Fidesz government’s decision not to issue local licence plates to American soldiers serving at the Pápa Air Base in Hungary.

“[F]or more than three years,” Pressman said, “in violation of our Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Hungarian government has not allowed these young soldiers to get licence plates for their family cars, instead forcing them to pay tens of thousands of forints out of their pocket every month for temporary registrations. Not because of bureaucracy or red tape. Because the Hungarian government has made the political decision to do so.”

This issue, the Ambassador highlighted, is a symptom of a larger predicament, and is “indicative of the current, concerning state of Hungary’s relationship with its allies. The problem, he continued, is that Hungarian policymakers treat the United States as an adversary, “saying and doing things that undermine trust and friendship” between the two countries, while also isolating Hungary from its other allies.

PM’s Cabinet Office is the main political actor in the issue

Hungary new licence plates
Photo: facebook.com/vitezydavid

The trouble over the licence plates that Pressman protested, and his argument that there is an underlying conflict between the two states being exacerbated by the Hungarian government, seem to have been true, according to VSqaure.org.

The platform shares in a newsletter that a former official of the Orbán government confirmed the Ambassador’s allegations, saying:

“It’s true, this is a political decision to mess with American soldiers and try to get the US to ask us to resolve the issue, so we can also ask for something in return.”

According to their source, every step of the process of acquiring documentation for the soldiers’ American-made cars – which need special permission to drive on EU roads due to different traffic standards – had been successful. But then, the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office stepped in and halted proceedings in 2021.

The Cabinet Office is headed by Antal Rogán, who is often called the “Propaganda Minister” of the Fidesz government because of his central role in the “increasingly anti-US, pro-Russian Hungarian government propaganda machine, as well as the intelligence services,” as VSquare puts it.

Indeed, for example, under his rule, the Cabinet Office paid – an unknown amount of taxpayer money – to have ads shown on YouTube about the dangers of illegal migration all over Central Europe to push Fidesz’s anti-migration narratives to the forefront of politics in the region, and he was also a crucial player in the recent presidential clemency controversy.

Between 2015 and 2023, the National Communications Office, which is part of the ministry led by Rogán, spent a total of HUF 1,360 billion (EUR 3.40 billion) on communication and event planning, illustrating how important he and his office are for the politics of the Hungarian government.

Apparently, when the instruction came to halt the licence -issuing procedure for the Americans stationed in the country, the state secretary of Rogán emphasised that the instruction was a purely political decision that must not be overwritten.

As for the future of Hungarian-American relations, things do not seem to be on a path of normalisation. As we reported, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the US Ambassador a “left-wing political activist,” saying that when Pressman criticises Hungary for supposedly undermining trust within NATO, he should not forget how many Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan by Hungarians.

Read also:

  • Mfor: Orbán cabinet will squeeze foreign supermarket chains, Spar remains a target – HERE
  • Hungary continues to strengthen its army, air force – READ HERE

Hungary continues to strengthen its army, air force

Hungary continuing to strengthen its army, air force (Copy)

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said on Friday that 2024 would be all about the Hungarian air force.

Addressing an international conference focusing on Europe’s security and defence in Fehervarcsurgo, south of Budapest, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that with the expansion of the army’s fleet of 14 Gripen fighter jets with another four, Hungarians would become “masters” of the craft, given their associated training and maintenance capabilities.

In addition, Hungary will take delivery of two transport aircraft supplied by Brazil, as well as training and reconnaissance planes manufactured in Czechia.

The purchase of loitering, kamikaze and reconnaissance drones is also on the agenda, he said.

“Besides purchases that meet the needs of the Hungarian armed forces, we are also thinking in terms of placing emphasis on developing our defence industry with a view to preparing it for the export markets,” the minister said, noting the manufacturing of Lynx armoured infantry fighting vehicles in Zalaegerszeg and the construction of an ammunition plant in Varpalota.

He highlighted “cultural change” in the Hungarian armed forces, the essence of which was to have professional units capable of operating cutting-edge equipment at bases round the country.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the two main focus areas of Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency in the second half of this year will be strengthening the bloc’s own defence capabilities and enhancing its defence industry capacities.

Read also:

  • Hungarian army to enhance its rescue capabilities – Read more HERE
  • The unbelievable story of the only black Hungarian soldier of WWI – Read it in THIS article

New Hungarian commander-in-chief briefed about Hungary’s security situation

New Hungarian commander-in-chief Tamás Sulyok

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky has met President Tamás Sulyok to brief him on Hungary’s security situation, the minister said in a video on Facebook on Thursday.

The minister also briefed Sulyok about the development programme of Hungary’s armed forces and defence industry.

Gábor Böröndi, the chief of staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces, told the president in detail about the operations, military order and equipment of the army, as well as tasks he had performed and important tasks set forth for the future.

Sulyok is the commander-in-chief of Hungary’s armed forces.

Read also:

  • Will Hungary support the Romanian president for NATO chief? – Read more HERE

Will Hungary support the Romanian president for NATO chief?

Will Hungary help the Romanian president for NATO chief

The Orbán cabinet has previously indicated its reluctance to back Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the top position within the military alliance. However, a new applicant has emerged in the form of Romanian ethnic German President Klaus Iohannis. It’s crucial to note that unanimous support is required for the appointment of the new NATO head.

According to 444.hu, Mark Rutte has previously applied for the top position of the military alliance but now faces competition from Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Iohannis has asserted that he would make an ideal NATO leader based on Romania’s 20-year NATO membership, the country’s performance and his own presidential track record.

Previously, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, said that Budapest would not endorse Rutte’s aspirations due to his consistent criticism of Hungary. In contrast, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany have thrown their weight behind the Dutch politician.

Could Iohannis become the first Eastern European secretary-general of NATO?

However, Rutte also requires Hungary’s approval. Consequently, we may witness a similar standoff to that seen with Sweden’s NATO accession. The Hungarian parliament delayed voting on Stockholm’s bid for nearly two years, preventing Sweden from joining the military alliance, despite Hungary’s purchase of Swedish aircraft for its expanding air force. This underscores the robust military cooperation between the two nations.

While the North Atlantic Alliance has previously had three Dutch heads, no secretary-general has come from Eastern Europe. Iohannis, who has served as Romania’s president since 2014, could potentially be the first. The Hungarian government has yet to comment on his application.

Read also:

  • Hungary celebrates the 25th anniversary of its accession to NATO – Photos and details in THIS article
  • Did Czech, Polish prime ministers shout at PM Orbán due to Sweden’s NATO accession?

Strong NATO important to Hungarian government but so is mutual respect

PM Viktor Orbán Joe Biden NATO - diplomacy

The government considers strengthening NATO an important aim but expects mutual respect from old and prospective member states, the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs (MKI) said in an analysis of Sweden’s NATO accession.

This is why Hungary has invited Sweden’s prime minister to Budapest, and his visit is expected to pave the way for Hungarian lawmakers to ratify the accession document, the think-tank said, adding that Hungary’s strategy had ended up strengthening NATO while also enhancing its national interests, with an improvement seen in bilateral ties.

During Sweden’s EU presidency, attacks against Hungary were blunted, resulting in the transfer of EU funds withheld from Hungary, it said.

One outcome of Hungary’s imminent ratification could be the signing of “an extremely favourable military deal” for Hungary which includes Gripen fighter jets.

The MKI also emphasised that in parliamentary democracy such as Hungary’s, it was normal for elected members of parliament to consider a momentous ratification request for months before debates and a final vote.

The institute also referred to “misleading and baseless information” in the Swedish media that the Swedish government did little to counter as a further reason for Hungary’s initially “cool” attitude to the matter.

The think-tank said “intense negotiations” were under way between Sweden and Hungary regarding the accession, and, noting that the current Hungarian Gripen contract will soon expire, the talks also cover an arms and military industrial deal which includes renewal of the Gripen programme.

Read also:

The Hungarian defence minister ran 3,200m and is very proud on his achievement – VIDEO

The Hungarian defence minister ran 3,200m and is very proud on his achievement

Sport is all about friendship and belonging, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said on Friday, marking the anniversary of the founding of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).

CISM was established on February 18, 1948 by Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands with the aim of fostering peace and international cooperation and promoting sport and a healthy lifestyle, with the motto Friendship through Sport.

The minister, speaking before a commemorative run held at the BHSE sports centre, said this idea also took hold in Hungary, adding that soldiers best showed friendship and a sense of belonging through playing sports together.

Soldiers of CISM member countries as well as military administrators and members of army sports associations since 2006 have marked the anniversary of the sports council by running together.

Hungary’s armed forces joined the run in 2015, and now Szalay-Bobrovniczky and fellow senior ministry and army officials joined Hungarian Olympic medalists in completing the run.

Read also:

  • Hungarian government does not see Russia as a security threat to any NATO member – Read more HERE
  • Orbán: Ukraine has to be a buffer zone between Russia and NATO

Here is the video in which he said that running 2,000 metres before alone was a bigger challenge for him:

Developing Hungary’s armed forces ‘a must’

Hungary’s armed forces must be developed to a level that it enables defending the country, if need be, the defence minister told a business conference in Budapest on Friday.

Addressing the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum 24, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the development process is under way in the defence industry, including an upgrade of arms, infrastructure and military staff.

Giving an outline of development projects, the minister noted the “huge progress” made in all military branches. He noted “a qualitative generational change” in the country’s air defence capabilities which he said “have been brought to a top-notch level”.

The next task is to set up a heavy brigade which is a NATO requirement, he said, noting Hungary’s pledge to establish a substantial ground armoured force by 2028.

Hungarian government: Hungary committed NATO member

Hungary Defence Forces NATO ministry

Hungary as a committed member of NATO will continue to develop its armed forces, the defence minister said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told MTI that an increasing number of member states aimed to meet the NATO requirement of spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defence. “Hungary has fulfilled that requirement since 2023, for which the country has received NATO’s recognition,” he said, adding that it also showed the Hungarian government’s commitment to ensuring security for the Hungarian people and fulfilling NATO’s requirements.

“Toady’s meeting highlighted again the need for NATO member states to increase spending on their own security,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

He noted that the meeting’s main focus was to review and prepare defence issues for a meeting of heads of state and government to be held in Washington, DC, in July to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO. These include finalising NATO’s plan on enhancing the alliance’s collective defence force, and its effectiveness will feature high on the July meeting’s agenda, the minister said.

The need to expand defence industry capacities was also highlighted at Thursday’s meeting, the minister said, adding that Hungary was “at the forefront in this regard since the country already began building its own defence industry base before the war broke out in Ukraine”.

“We must continue modernising the Hungarian Armed Forces, and as a member on NATO’s eastern flank we must take a significant share in strengthening the alliance’s defence capabilities,” the minister added.

He called it a priority for Hungary to further strengthen NATO’s multinational division headquarters in Szekesfehervar, in central Hungary, in partnership with Croatia and Slovakia.

The NATO-Ukraine Council also held a meeting on Thursday at which the Ukrainian defence minister gave an outline of the situation in his country, while NATO members reviewed support provided to Ukraine so far, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, adding that Hungary’s position was unchanged in that it would not supply weapons to Ukraine and only a prompt ceasefire and peace negotiations could end the war.

Read also:

  • Hungary will accept Sweden’s NATO bid next week? – Read more HERE
  • Hungarian government does not see Russia as a security threat to any NATO member

Hungarian major general takes over EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hungarian major general takes over EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Major General László Sticz of the Hungarian general staff took command of European Union’s EUFOR Althea mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in an official ceremony in Sarajevo on Wednesday.

President Katalin Novák addressed the Hungarian troops serving in the mission after the ceremony, calling on them to be role models and being a soldier was synonymous with “decency, honour and patriotism”.

She said the ongoing wars had highlighted the importance of “being able to defend ourselves as a country, a nation and in an alliance”. She underscored the importance of military upgrades, bolstering defence capabilities and bolstering the prestige of the Hungarian Armed Forces.

Novák said the Althea mission having a Hungarian commander was a matter of great pride for Hungary.

Hungary, she said, was “surrounded by powder kegs”, noting the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Yugoslav Wars in the past.

The president noted that the defence ministry’s recruitment campaign was also aimed at bolstering the Armed Forces by encouraging more and more people to join the military either as volunteers or reservists.

Read also:

  • EU’s Bosnia-Herzegovina operation to be led by Hungarian commander – Read more HERE
  • Hungary to spend a record percentage of GDP on arms? – Read more HERE

Althea contributes a lot to Hungarians’s security

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky told the media that the importance of the Althea mission lay in the fact that it contributed directly to the security of the Hungarian people.

Hungary’s security, he added, was also dependent on the stability of the Western Balkan countries.

“It is clear that in the era of dangers, in addition to the war to the east, we must also keep an eye on illegal migration routes,” he said, adding the Althea mission guaranteed peace and stability in the Western Balkans after the Yugoslav Wars.

Sticz told the media that the tasks of the mission have to be coordinated with the state and military leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. EUFOR’s mission, he added, was to support the work of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities with all means and military power.

Hungary-Bosnia will deepen military cooperation

Hungary Bosnia military cooperation

“It is especially important in the current era of dangers that international attention is maintained in the Western Balkans in order to preserve stability, and Hungary continues to play a role in this,” the defence minister said in Sarajevo on Tuesday after talks with Zukan Helez, his counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ministry cited Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky saying that Hungary had a vested interest in the political and economic stability of South-Eastern Europe, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it contributes to the security of Hungary and Europe.

“We are ready to deepen bilateral military cooperation, including professional meetings and training,” he said.

“Our defence ministries are continually working together to strengthen relations,” he added.

Read also:

  • Hungary to spend a record percentage of GDP on arms? – Read more HERE
  • PM Orbán’s only son, Captain Orbán serves in an African country

He noted that Hungary was going to fulfil the role of European Union president in the second half of this year.

“It is among our most important goals that during Hungary’s European Union presidency we highlight the importance of EU enlargement and the strengthening of European defence capabilities,” he added.

The ministry said Szalay-Bobrovniczky was scheduled to meet on Tuesday the heads of the EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission set up 20 years ago, its Hungarian commander and Hungarian soldiers serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hungary to spend a record percentage of GDP on arms?

Turkish combat vehicle Gidrán

Amidst escalating conflicts, the Hungarian government has elevated the development of the Hungarian Defence Forces to a top priority. Prime Minister Orbán has stressed repeatedly that the goal is to have a strong, powerful, deterrent force capable of ensuring peace. However, the question remains: how does Hungary’s strength compare to other nations?

Sourcing Arms from Germany

G7 has reported that in the previous year, Hungary emerged as the third-largest purchaser of arms from the German defence industry, after Ukraine and Norway. Though the specific figures remain unconfirmed, it is estimated that Hungary imported German weapons amounting to one billion euros. Rheinmetall, a key German strategic partner and a major beneficiary of the heightened European arms demand, inaugurated a facility in Zalaegerszeg to manufacture Lynx armoured combat vehicles. In addition, Rheinmetall is actively engaged in the advancement of the next-generation KF51 Panther tanks. The company is also overseeing the production of Gidrán armoured vehicles in Kaposvár under a Turkish license, establishing a radar production plant in Nyírtelek, and constructing an ammunition factory in Várpalota. Complementing these endeavours, Hungarian companies are contributing to the arms industry by producing small arms in Kiskunfélegyháza and collaborating with Airbus in Gyula to manufacture helicopter parts.

This year’s budget

The draft budget for this year sees a nearly 29 percent increase in defence spending, rising from HUF 1,395 billion (EUR 3.59 billion) to HUF 1,796 billion (EUR 4.63). The Defence Fund, established in 2022 and primarily funded by bank and insurance taxes to cover additional expenditures like equipment purchases, will experience a 55 percent allocation boost to 1,309 billion forints. According to the budget, this increase could push defence spending to 2.1 percent of GDP in 2024, surpassing the NATO criterion of 2 percent and setting a record percentage of GDP spent on arms.

Read also:

How powerful is Hungary in the region?

However, the Prime Minister’s aspirations for a leading role in the region and a “Central European middle power” status may be somewhat exaggerated. In recent years, all major regional countries have embarked on rapid military modernisation, and Hungary’s sharp increase in military expenditures, even when considered as a percentage of GDP, still falls somewhat short of the regional average. Nevertheless, this should not pose an issue as long as Hungary refrains from arming against its neighbours but collaborates with them.

In the region, Poland, with its rapidly developing and modernised force, has long surpassed Hungary. Moreover, Czechia plans to spend more than 2 percent of its GDP on arms this year. While Romania’s defence spending is on a robust upward trajectory, Hungary remains ahead of Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovakia in terms of order volumes, holding a middle position in line with its population and economic size.

PM Orbán’s only son, Captain Orbán serves in an African country

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

Hungary has a military mission in Chad, many believe that is how PM Orbán tries to strengthen his relationship with President Macron, who he counts on in the European Union (and Chad is France’s last remaining ‘fortress’ in the Sahel region). Captain Gáspár Orbán, the prime minister’s only son, is a member of the Hungarian military mission in Chad. But nobody knows what exactly he is doing there.

Szabolcs Panyi, a Hungarian journalist, has been working to discover the reasons why Gáspár Orbán is in the North-African country. According to his Facebook post, after they asked questions concerning the issue and showed some photos of Captain Orbán to Hungarian diplomats, the Hungarian defence minister shared in an interview given to a Hungarian government-close news outlet that PM Orbán’s son has been serving in his cabinet preparing the Hungarian military’s Chad mission.

Later, a photo appeared on Index, showing Gáspár Orbán taking part in negotiations in Chad. In THIS  Telex article, you may check out some more shots. Direkt36 (the news outlet Mr Panyi works for) might share more details about the issue later. But the big question leftist media outlets are asking now: what exactly does Captain Orbán do in Chad?

Read also:

  • PM Orbán’s son graduated from British RMA Sandhurst – Hungary paid his tuition fee – Read more HERE
  • Le Monde: PM Orbán’s son to evangelise 18-30-year-old intellectuals? – Details in THIS article

Here are some photos of Gáspár Orbán in Chad:

Behind the pillar:

Gáspár Orbán as a soldier:

Hungary Helps agency opens first African representative office

The Hungary Helps agency opened its first staffed representative office in Africa two weeks ago, in N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad, state secretary for the aid of persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program said.

Tristan Azbej told a conference dubbed Synergy between the EU and the Sub-Sahara region organised by the Sustainable Development Knowledge Centre that Hungarians owe solidarity and responsibility for Africa and its people. The Hungarian government recognised the significance of the continent ten years ago and launched its policy of opening to the south, he added.

Commenting on the Hungary Helps programme, he said Hungarian donations had been sent to more than 50 countries, 18 of which were in the Sub-Sahara region. Diplomatic presence is currently being increased in the region because Hungary wants to catch up on delays in the opening to the south scheme. As against two Hungarian diplomatic representative offices in the Sub-Sahara region in 2010, there are currently seven, he added.

Azbej announced at the event that the Hungary Helps Agency was inviting applications for Hungarian civil organisations to support their humanitarian and development activities in Africa.

Commenting on the war conflicts in the Sahel, he said if the region “fails and falls into chaos”, some 100 million refugees might set off, causing migratory pressure in Europe.

Concering the tasks of the new representative office in N’Djamena, he said Hungary follows the principle that the help offered is based on direct personal relations, and the office will seek to assess the demands of the people that need help.

Chief of staff briefs Hungarian President on defence, security matters – PHOTOS

Chief of staff briefs Hungarian President on defence, security matters

Gábor Böröndi, the chief of staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces, briefed President Katalin Novák on the state of the military and matters concerning Hungary’s security, at the Gyula Castle in the south-eastern Hungarian town on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media before his meeting with the president, Böröndi said he was to brief Novák, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, on the experiences gained in last November’s Adaptive Hussars 23 NATO military exercise.

In response to a question, he said the exercise had been conducted based on Hungary’s National Armed Defence Plan. Cooperation between the army and county public administration bodies had been smooth, but the Armed Forces has amendment proposals regarding economic services, he said.

Böröndi also briefed the president on the army’s recruitment scheme in Hódmezővásárhely, in southern Hungary. He said the army also had legislative proposals concerning the activation or the system of reservists.

Read also:

  • Success: thousands of recruits enter Hungarian army in 2023 – Read more HERE
  • The Hungarian military booms, strengthened greatly in the last year

President Novák, who is on a multi-day visit to Bekes County, on Wednesday afternoon visited the birth house of Ferenc Erkel, the composer of the Hungarian national anthem, where she participated in a special music class with soprano Erika Miklosa and music historian Andras Batta, CEO of the House of Music in Budapest.

She then paid a visit to the plant of dairy company Szarvasi Mozzarella in Örménykút.

The recent visit forms part of the president’s programme of visiting every county to learn first-hand about local affairs.

Success: thousands of recruits enter Hungarian army in 2023

Thousands of new recruits

There were around 4,000 new army recruits this year, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said in a statement on Saturday.

Interest in the military is strong and growing, the statement said, noting the success of online and offline media recruitment campaigns and school presentations in 2023.

The army recruitment website was visited more than 500,000 times and recruiters received more than 42,000 calls, it said, adding that from August to mid-September alone 1,500 new soldiers joined the Hungarian army.

The 4,000 new recruits include reservists, contract soldiers, and non-commissioned officers.

Also, more than 200 young people began studying military courses at the National Public Service University’s faculty of military science and defence officer training.

The “Iron Man” recruitment campaign is entering its second phase, and 149 people have already applied to train on PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, the minister said.

Every soldier who proves to be fit for service and who applies for enlistment on Feb 12 in the artillery division of the 1st Armored Brigade will have a starting salary of a monthly 737,000 (EUR 1,920) before tax, the statement said.

Read also:

  • First Hungarian-made Lynx rolls off production line – Read more HERE
  • Hungary announced another important military development

The Hungarian military booms, strengthened greatly in the last year

Airbus H225M

The Hungarian military has had a year filled with developments. New additions have arrived into the arsenal and upgrades have been implemented.

It has been an eventful year for the Hungarian Defense Forces. The old Chief of Staff Major General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi has been replaced by Major General Gábor Böröndi. Recruitment is in full swing, joint military exercises with several nations have taken place in Hungary and numerous new weapons have been introduced to the military. Let’s take a peek at the new weapons that arrived this year and how the current military arsenal is looking.

Air Defense

Hungary’s air defense has seen significant improvements this year, making up for more than 20 years of lag. Since the mass dismantling in 2010, the Hungarian airspace has not been properly protected. However, this fall marked a new level in the Hungarian ground-based air defense. The first two batteries arrived from the NASAMS, which is a Norwegian-American air defense missile system. It provides real and reliable protection against modern fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.

Additionally, the defendable area is several times larger with NASAMS. This new air defense system has a network-based operation, advanced communication system, and exceptional hit accuracy, which completely elevates Hungarian air defense, vg.hu writes. The Gripens also received extra upgrades, namely extra missiles, which are also compatible with the NASAMS system.

Helicopters in the Air Force

New helicopters arrived at the Hungarian Defense Forces this year. The fleet got updated with the first four out of the 14 previously ordered Airbus H225Ms. Similar to the previously arrived models, some of the new additions will be equipped for fire support tasks. What’s more, two years ago, Hungary ordered the German IRIS-T, considered one of the world’s best short-range air-to-air missiles, for its fighter jets. To summarise, Hungarian air defense has modernised drastically in the previous period, and now fits the requirements of the 21st century threats that may arise.

Tanks

Leopard 2A7+

The first four Leopard 2A7+ arrived at the Tata armored brigade, out of the 44 that Hungary previously has ordered.
The Leopard 2A7+ is one of the world’s most modern tanks, but Hungary may acquire an even more effective weapon in the second half of the decade as Rheinmetall’s Zalaegerszeg plant participates in the development of the company’s newest tank, the Panther.

The first Lynx armored fighting vehicle was completed at the Zalaegerszeg plant, which has an annual production capacity of 50. The Hungarian Defense Forces ordered a total of 209 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles and the first 46 will come from Germany. This year also marked the completion of Hungary’s self-propelled howitzer fleet, which now consists of 24 PzH 2000s. The Hungarian artillery underwent a gigantic technological leap with these new weapons.

Industrial Growth

In addition to Rheinmetall’s investment in Zalaegerszeg, where they completed the building of the military plant there have been some other new investments. Such as a weapons factory being established in Győr, which will manufacture Gidrán 4X4 MRAPs. The Hungarian Defense Forces plan to deploy a total of 400-500 Gidrán vehicles in various configurations. Among them, the two most exciting types could be the mortar-equipped version and the artillery reconnaissance vehicle. There will likely be traditional troop carriers and gunners, command and casualty transport versions as well.

A domestically owned ammunition factory will be established based on the prestigious Italian Beretta license. It will produce NATO standard ammunition rounds, meeting the needs of modern machine guns and rifles deployed in the Hungarian Defense Forces.

All in all, there have been various minor and major developments through the year. It can be said that the above list includes only the most significant military developments. Based on all this, the arsenal of the Hungarian Defense Forces has grown significantly this year, and there has been no shortage of new announcements.

Read more about the first Hungarian to fly a plane HERE.

Read more about the ten richest Hungarians in 2023 HERE.

First Hungarian-made Lynx rolls off production line

First Hungarian-made Lynx rolls off production line

The first Hungarian-made Lynx armoured infantry fighting vehicle rolled off Rheinmetall’s assembly line in Zalaegerszeg, in western Hungary, on Saturday, the defence minister said.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky called the event “a historic milestone” in the Hungarian army’s development programme, according to a ministry statement.

The minister said the Lynx is “the most modern, state of the art infantry fighting vehicle of our time, which reflects the cultural change that has begun in the Hungarian Armed Forces”.

Creating a modern, high-tech defence force will ensure that the Hungarian army “can not only effectively provide for the defence of our country, but can also fully meet its obligations to international allies,” the minister said.

Read also:

  • Hungary announced another important military development – Read more HERE

Hungary announced another important military development

Hungarian military

The Hungarian Armed Forces has asked Rheinmetall to develop a heavy brigade air defence system in line with NATO requirements, the defense ministry said on Thursday.

Modernising equipment is not just about acquisitions but steady development, too, the ministry’s statement said.

A key part of the Lynx fighting vehicle is its air defence system designed for active defence against low-flying, small drones and traditional air targets, it said.

The German arms company has received an order to develop the short-range air defence system called Skyranger 30 Lynx. Based on the Lynx chassis, it will provide direct air defence protection for the heavy brigade equipped with modern combat vehicles, the statement said.

Read also:

  • Turkish combat vehicle will be manufactured in Hungary – Read more HERE
  • NATO battlegroup in Hungary tested during exercise – check out our video in THIS article

Discover this abandoned military castle near Lake Balaton!

Hajmáskér military base places in Hungary

Not far from the Hungarian sea sits a small village that hosts one of Hungary’s most gorgeous abandoned castles. The forgotten military base doubles as a ghost castle in Hajmáskér.

The village is only a short 14 kilometers from Lake Balaton and quite close to Veszprém. It boasts a surprisingly deep history in the form of a military base, which was once the best in Europe. Now, it’s one of the most beautiful abandoned castles of Hungary, and it definitely needs to be on everybody’s list to check out.

Hajmáskér military base

The military barracks of Hajmáskér were built back when Hungary still had a real king. During the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the reigning monarch, Franz Joseph, recommended this plot for the building of a future artillary military base. The land was bought in 1901 by the crown for 1,8 million Crowns. The goal was to build the biggest artillery training boot camp and shooting range in all of Europe.

The complex comes to life

Hajmáskér military base
Source: Wikipedia Commons
Hajmáskér military base

The grounds took up 5 thousand hectares, so this goal was entirely in reach. The architects trusted with the planning and building of the base camp were Márton Kondor and József Feledi, and they were perfect for the job. Next to the military complex, they additionally worked on an enormous park and a lake.

They didn’t stop there, since the barracks were arranged so that they could accommodate everything that everyday life demanded. The camp supported a stable capable of housing up to a thousand horses. There was also an ammunition depot, workshops and a hospital. These are only the absolutely necessary units, but the camp also had a school, a theater, and even modern facilities such as a slaughterhouse, a dairy, refrigeration house, and wastewater treatment plant.

These investments were extremely costy and the two architects couldn’t stop adding in their wonderful features, thus the complex just kept getting more expensive as time went on. According to magyarorszagom.hu, in the end, it cost more than 5 million Crowns. Surprisingly enough, the construction only lasted three years, which is a shockingly short time for such a huge complex to be built.

Base history

Hajmáskér military base

After WWI, part of the military base was turned into a prison for prisoners of war. Here, several thousand Russians, Serbians and Italian soldiers were kept. The military base designed a special currency to provide for the prisoners. They received it after the worth of their confiscated items. Use of the special currency was limited to the bounds of the base as to prevent prisoners from getting access to real money.

During WWII, in 1944, when the German occupation was in full force, the Germans took over the command of the base, which they vacated once the Russians arrived. The Russians arrived, then stayed for quite a while. Sadly the military base of Hajmáskér had started to wear down with time and usage and no one bothered to fix it. During the Russian stay, the lake drained and the buildings were left in disrepair. Once the troops were withdrawn in 1990, they took everything of value and made money from the things they couldn’t move.

Since then, the military base has changed hands several times, but none stuck. The idea of a full-blown renovation has always hung in the air, but sadly, it has never been pursued. To this day, the building stands there, letting nature claim its walls back.

  • Read more about an abandoned Hungarian military base HERE.
  • Read more about another stunning ghost house HERE.