Hungary to Extend Gripen Lease by Ten Years

The signing of the contract will save a significant amount, which is a gross HUF 63 billion (net HUF 49 billion). The 45 per cent increase of the total costs calculated until 2026 will result in a 95 per cent increase in flight hour numbers, and the offer includes the training as well.

Expert consultations about extending the lease of Gripen fighters ended in December 2011, and the Hungarian government approved the decision on modifying the terms of the contract on January 4, 2012. The Swedish government is expected to endorse the contract until the end of January, after which the signature may take place.

At the press conference the Defence Minister said the extension of the term period of the contract is a national interest because the lease of the Swedish fighters would otherwise expire in 2016 and there is no alternative solution to replace the Gripens.

Dr. Csaba Hende praised the modern Gripen fighters, which are interoperable with the air forces of our NATO allies. The need for their deployment is shown by the air incident that occurred on December 4, 2011, when a foreign intruder aircraft entering the Hungarian airspace was intercepted by the quick reaction alert (QRA) fighters in four minutes.

The JAS-39 Gripen in service meets the technological and tactical standards of our age to the maximum extent, being one of the world’s best fourth-generation fighters available on the market, and at once the most up-to-date capability of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

The Gripen passed the test of the first combat missions with flying colors during the NATO-led operations in Libya. Experience shows that its systems are fully compatible with those of NATO. Apart from the praise from the troops on operations and military experts, the most telling evidence of its capability is the fact that Switzerland has recently decided to procure 22 Gripen fighters, the Defence Minister noted.

Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky