Csaba Hende: Hungarian–US Military Exercise Strengthens Hungary’s Security

Minister Hende said that Exercise Warlord Rock 2015 is an expression of our commitment to strengthening the security of Hungary and the region in a changed security environment. The Minister of Defence noted that the Readiness Action Plan approved at the NATO Wales Summit last year is a response to the changed security environment.

He said that in connection with this, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had stated that plans must be made in the interest of strengthening the security of the country. The current exercise exemplifies this commitment, he added.

The Minister noted that the Hungarian Defence Forces have been training to take part in several other exercises in this year. All of these exercises demonstrate that we can count on our allies and they too can count on us.

Minister Hende stated that already before the Wales Summit, the government of Hungary had made a decision to increase Hungary’s defence spending. He added that an element of this is the 50 per cent pay raise for soldiers, 30 per cent of which is already implemented in this year, and the remaining 20 per cent to be paid until 2019.

The Minister of Defence also said that HUF 20 billion more than last year is spent on defence in 2015, and that HUF 20 billion would be spent on Pápa Air Base next year.

Ambassador Colleen Bell said that the Hungarian–US exercise is an excellent example of the long-standing bilateral cooperation. Lt.-Gen. Frederick Ben Hodges, Commanding General, US Army Europe (COM USAREUR) pointed out that the secure radio communication between the US and Hungarian troops during the exercise is a specialty. Chief of Defence Gen. Tibor Benkő said that the objective of the exercise – which started on Sunday and lasts until March 3 – is to train the 750-strong combined Hungarian–US combat, combat support and combat service support forces in planning, organizing and conducting airborne operations.

The C–17 and C–130 US aircraft took off from Aviano Air Base, Italy to redeploy the troops who jumped at an altitude of 300 meters to reach the drop zones, on some occasions in groups of 100.

The exercise is being conducted under Hungarian command at three designated locations, which include the Várpalota training area besides the HDF Pápa Air Base in Hungary.

The range bulletin of the HDF Bakony Combat Training Centre says that live firing training for combat vehicles and infantry will be held in the area of Hajmáskér and Öskü until Friday this week and in the first days of March. The exercise will involve the movement of US combat vehicles on main road No. 82, where even 3.5 ton military vehicles may appear.

The military movements will be implemented also on the sections of the Veszprém–Zirc railway line lying in the training area, the bulletin says.

Photos by Veronika Dévényi and Gábor Kálmánfi