The new aircraft will be based at Kecskemet Air Base in southern Hungary, where they will be used to respond quickly to airspace violations in the region. The acquisition expands the Hungarian Air Force's existing fleet, which currently consists of 14 Gripens.
"Guarantee of sovereignty"
Hungarian Gripens, operated by the 101st Airborne Regiment, are actively participating in NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, in which Budapest has played the lead nation role four times. The regiment previously operated Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets before switching to Swedish aircraft in 2008.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Gabor Berendi, stressed the importance of these aircraft at the ceremony. "For us, Gripen is not just an aircraft, it is not just a military-technical device. For us, Hungarian soldiers, it is a guarantee of our sovereignty. Since then, we have not only maintained this capability, but also developed it," he said.
The Gripen aircraft, depending on configuration, is up to 16 meters long, has a wingspan of up to 9 meters and can accommodate up to two crew members. It is powered by a General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine, which allows it to reach a maximum speed of Mach 2 (2470 km/h) and a flight altitude of 16,000 meters.
Aircraft characteristics
It can carry up to 4,535 liters of fuel and has a range of 4,074 kilometers (2,200 nautical miles). The aircraft has a payload of 7,200 kilograms. It is also equipped with an electronic warfare package that ensures its operation in hostile environments.
Armament includes a 27 mm cannon, short-range infrared-guided IRIS-T missiles, AIM-120 and Meteor air-to-air missiles with active radar homing. As for weapons for land and sea targets, it can carry AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, RBS-15 fire-and-forget anti-ship missiles, and laser-guided bombs.
