Csaba Hende: Ministry of Defence Procurement Office To Be Set Up

Szöveg: honvedelem.hu / MTI | 2015. január 29. 9:00

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Procurement Office will be set up in February to ensure the smooth running of military procurement processes, Minister of Defence Csaba Hende announced at the annual assessment and tasking meeting of military leaders held in Budapest on Tuesday.

In his speech, the Minister identified the introduction of the military career path model as the biggest task of the year, and at the same time underlined that the modernization of military assets and the replacement of obsolete items of equipment must be carried on by drawing on the expanding resources, with special regard to helicopter procurement. Speaking about the latter, he said that the Ministry – in cooperation with the state actors involved – had formulated the needs and made the relevant calculations. According to these plans, around 30 transport helicopters will be procured, which requires a resource of some HUF 172 billion. The green light to this procurement will be given after the government’s decision and the allocation of resources. At a press conference held in the break of the meeting, Minister Hende said that he had discussed the renewal of Hungary’s helicopter pool with Colleen Bell, the new US ambassador to Budapest during her introductory visit on the previous day.

At the meeting, Minister Hende gave a list of the most important tasks, which include the planning of a national defence policy program in the framework of a governmental work schedule, the assistance to be given to the development of Hungarian defence industry and careful arrangements for the international air show which is to be held again in 2016.

In addition, the Hungarian Defence Forces must carry on their international engagement on the same excellent level, especially in the new Afghanistan mission, the Baltic Air Policing program starting from this autumn, the NATO rapid reaction forces and the V4 EU Battle Group. Speaking about these tasks, Minister Hende noted that the stability of the Balkans continues to be a priority, so if the need arises, the Hungarian Defence Forces are ready to undertake new missions, primarily in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Minister Hende also underlined that the 3D radar in Medina had been completed. The test period is now over, and as of this May, it will start operating as part of the NATO integrated air defence system (NATINADS).

At present the Hungarian Defence Forces are participating in ongoing NATO-, EU- and UN-led missions in 12 countries on three continents. Minister Hende said that the mandates of most African missions had been extended, and that the Hungarian troops deployed on the Sinai Peninsula would finish their mission in the spring of this year.

Speaking about last year’s events, the Minister said that the international security situation had fundamentally changed, and by way of example, he referred to the conflict in Ukraine, the advance of the Islamic State (IS) and the problem of increased illegal migration.

Minister Hende called NATO’s Wales Summit in September the most important event of last year, which conveyed the key message that the downsizing necessitated by the economic crisis is over, and the defence sector has become more important everywhere. The Minister reminded his audience of the commitments Hungary made at the Summit, for instance the development of Pápa Air Base, and the Hungarian Defence Forces’ contributions to the work of the Alliance, which include an infantry company deployed to Lithuania and staff officers delegated to other commands.

Minister Hende gave an assessment of the results, in which he emphasized that last year the EOD technicians of the Hungarian Defence Forces continued working by high professional standards in Hungary, without any accidents, and neutralized the great many items of UXO which were found almost on a daily basis. He also emphasized that last year the MoD had taken over the organization of national events, and thanked Maj.-Gen. István Kun Szabó, the deputy state secretary responsible for this field. Minister Hende noted that the tasks of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War had so far been carried out successfully. Besides, the KatonaSuli (Military School) program is continuously expanding, and the military basics are already being taught in as many as 62 secondary schools, the Minister underlined.

In his speech, the Minister of Defence pointed out that Hungary’s economic situation has been strengthening year after year, which means an increase in spending on national defence as well. Minister Hende said that, as compared to last year, an additional HUF 20 billion would be allocated to the tasks of national defence with the increased defence budget and the resources planned for a pay rise, which amounts to a growth of around 8.2 per cent.

The Minister said that the plans of the military career path model and the related pay rise had already been sent to the military organizations for consultation. Speaking about this, he said that the military pay rise would be an average of 30 per cent as of this July, and 5 per cent in the next four years each, a total of 50 per cent on average. Going into details, he said that those serving with the units would get a bigger rise, while those doing desk jobs a smaller pay rise. Generals and senior officers would get an around 5 per cent pay rise, whereas young lieutenants would get 30 per cent or even more. Furthermore, a favorable system of public service housing benefits and a public service insurance company will be set up to help the soldiers’ lives.

President of Hungary János Áder was unable to attend the meeting due to his official duties, so he greeted the personnel of the Hungarian Defence Forces in a letter, which was read out by Deputy Chief of Defence Lt.-Gen. Zoltán Orosz. In the letter, the President of Hungary points out that the Hungarian Defence Forces performed their tasks in 2014 again above their strength, and that Hungary, as a reliable ally, actively contributed to NATO’s peace operations. The President thanked the members of the Hungarian Defence Forces for all these.

The annual assessment and tasking meeting of the Hungarian Defence Forces held on Tuesday, January 27 in Budapest was attended by Chief of Defence Gen. Tibor Benkő, Brig.-Gen. László Szegő, Adjutant General to the President of Hungary, Lt.-Gen. József Kovács, Director-General, Military National Security Service, András Patyi, the Rector of the National University of Public Service and the representatives of all military units and organizations.