We Can Be Proud of the Hungarian Soldiers’ Work

There was a spectacular demonstration on July 2, the media and VIP day of the exercise, which is being conducted with the participation of around 1,300 soldiers. According to the scenario, a convoy moving in a fictitious area of operations runs into an ambush, which is immediately responded to by the rapid reaction land forces and the air force units contacting Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs).

Initially, two Pilatus PC–9 aircraft flew past the theatre as a show of force, and then they were “cleared hot" to engage the forces ambushing the convoy. As these forces kept putting up resistance, Hungarian BTR–80s commenced a counterattack on the ground, and Italian Mangusta helicopters flying in the air struck the forest belt which served as an enemy hideout.

In the closing phase of the demonstration, two Bell–214 transport helicopters were also deployed to airlift Italian Special Forces soldiers to the area.

Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of the Defence Staff also inspected the demonstration of the Multinational Land Force (MLF) which had been set up in 1997. “As compared to the beginnings, we can see that a huge progress has been made in the capabilities of the MLF. I was very pleased to see how the soldiers can cooperate with each other, using English as the single working language. We are on the right track", said Gen. Benkő after the demonstration, adding that such exercises are important with a view to sharing lessons learned as well.

Photos by the author