The Fleet of the Hungarian Defence Forces Expanded

In the framework of the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program, the Ministry of Defence can not only acquire military equipment, but it also develops capabilities, such complex systems, which effectively serve Hungary’s interests, the performance of duties arising from the HDF main mission, and thereby the security of the Hungarian people. One of the priorities of development is the improvement of the HDF fixed wing aircraft capability in a way that a fleet specialized for different tasks stands at the disposal of the national defence instead of the aging An-26 airplanes.

In its airlift capability improvement HDF follows the trend typical in the NATO Member States, according to which the air force of a country is composed of several categories of transport aircraft: such as the small category light airplanes, the medium or the heavy, so called ramp aircraft used for logistics re-supply or airdropping, and the military transport aircraft. As for military transport aircraft, with the acquisition and entering into service of the A319 Airbuses, the first step was taken, which put an end to a vulnerable situation, and the Hungarian Defence Forces could again take the quick transport of troops between airports into their own hand, especially in case of mission tasks and international exercises. Now the process of development has reached a new milestone, when the air transport fleet of the Hungarian Defence Forces is expanded with a light, small category, multipurpose transport and courier plane. This category is represented by the just arrived Dassault Falcon 7X type aircraft.

This marks a serious step in the area of capability enhancement, as the HDF hasn’t had such a widely applicable aerial vehicle with these parameters before. This plane within its category, compared with its competitors makes a wide range of capabilities available in a flexible way: it is suitable beyond transporting and training of small troops, for courier-, and also for other special tasks. The aircraft provides a quick and safe solution when it is superfluous to dispatch large military transport aircraft. The three-engine aeroplane is able to fly over busy flight corridors, even at an altitude of up to 15 thousand meters, its ultimate speed approaches the sonic speed (950 km/hour), and its 11-thousand-kilometre flying range enables it for intercontinental flights as well.

Almost two thirds of the NATO Member States’ armies use and keep such category planes in service, among others the Belgian, the Czech, the Danish, the French, the Polish, the Italian, the German, the Slovenian, the Slovak armies, and from among our non-NATO-member neighbours the Austrian and the Serbian armed forces. This category – and in many countries such type of – aircraft is used for performing similar military and state duties within the framework of the army. The domestic use will follow suit: with this step the Hungarian Defence Forces – in view of the best international practices – will continue the renewal of the capabilities of the armed forces.

As for the use of the newly arrived aircraft, nothing will change, – the main assignment of the plane will be the performance of the professional military tasks arising from the fundamental mission of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and the duties provided by the law (e.g. international mission related tasks, transport of the special forces to their destination, military diplomacy and protocol tasks), and completing the capabilities and missions required by NATO. In accordance with the rules of law, as was in the past decades at all times, the Government and the Office of the President of the Republic is now also entitled to use these aircraft, because the air transport of the protected persons – in line with the European practice – is included in the responsibilities of the HDF. The Ministry wishes to make the best use of resources available in the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program: that’s why the acquisition was now preceded – as in all other cases –by an extensive market research. The HDF selecting the best scheme, decided on the acquisition of the aircraft.

The newly acquired plane is a used aircraft in his early life cycle, in excellent technical condition, arriving to Hungary with HDF painting, and HDF registry number, and will enter service in the Hungarian Defence Forces. The operation and maintenance of the aircraft will be carried out by the soldiers, and moreover the plane is suitable too for the insertion of special military device. The agreement is not only about the acquisition of aerial vehicles, but it also contains equipment and devices, and the preparation and training of the flight and the technical crew. The plane – regarding its second-hand character – could be purchased below market price.

The renewal of the HDF airlift capability will define in the coming decades one of the vital military capabilities of the Hungarian armed forces – and also of our motherland. In the plan made for the replacement of the air fleet, the so called operational and technical requirements and other important factors formulated by the experts of the Hungarian Defence Forces as users, are governing. As provided in the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program the renewal of the airlift capability will continue: the preparation of the acquisition of the third element of the developments, the so called ramp aircraft is in progress.

Photo by Veronika Dévényi