Major General Zoltán Somogyi
15:53 July 18, 2023Major General Zoltán Somogyi was born on 27th February 1974 in Fehérgyarmat. He began his military service in August 1992 at the Military Command Collage in Szentendre. He graduated as an artillery officer with a BSc in Land Surveying Engineering in 1996. He served 8 years in a various artillery officer assignments including 4 years as Battery Commander within the HDF 5th Mechanized Infantry Brigade 5th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion in Debrecen. During his artillery officer carrier, he successfully completed the Battery Commander Course of the German Bundeswehr and gathered experiences also in the field of rocket artillery. In 2003 he was deployed to the position of the 2nd Company Commander of the Hungarian Guard and Security Battalion, KFOR Kosovo and in 2004 he assumed command of the Hungarian Guard and Security Contingent, KFOR Skopje.
In 2007, he was appointed to the position of Hungarian Joint Force Command J3 Staff Officer in Székesfehérvár and he was promoted to Major. In 2009, he was assigned as a Liaison Officer to the German Operations Command in Potsdam and to the German MOD Planning Staff in Berlin focused on Hungarian contribution to ISAF operation. In 2010, he graduated from the National Defense University with MSc degree in Military Leadership. In 2012 he graduated the 7th German National Joint Admiral and General Staff Course at the Bundeswehr Command & Staff Collage in Hamburg. Following that, he was appointed to the position of the Military Assistant to the Chief of Land Forces of the Hungarian Joint Force Command and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. From 2013 to 2016, he served as the Head of Combat Support Branch G3 HDF JFC.
During this assignment in 2013-2014 he was deployed for seven months to Afghanistan as a senior advisor and head of a brigade level advisory team. In 2016, he was assigned to the position of Chief G37 HDF Joint Force Command. In 2017, his next appointment was at HDF JFC where he held the post of Chief J3/ACOS Operations and was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
From August 2018 he started and led the planning project of Headquarters Multinational Division Centre. He was appointed to Chief of Staff of the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre on 01 June 2020 and he was promoted to his current rank on the 20th of August 2020.
12 May 2022 – 17 May 2023 he served as Chief of Staff of EUFOR Force HQ in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since 15 July 2023 he has been assuming the position Director of the General Staff Hungarian Defence Forces.
He is married to his wife Beatrix and lives in Várpalota.
“Jolly Vihar 2026” Reloaded
12:06 April 28, 2026
Experts of the U.S. Air Force’s 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons and the HDF 47th Airbase worked out the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter’s procedure for refuelling with a running engine (hot refuelling) during an almost one-year joint service.
Future top military leaders in NATO environment
12:03 April 28, 2026
The students of the military general staff training course at the Ludovika University of Public Service gained strategic-level experiences on their visit to the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium.
Observation from bird’s-eye view
11:20 April 28, 2026
Aerial reconnaissance is a key element of the closing program in the third week of the 47th International Military Observers Course organized by the HDF Military Training Centre. Altogether 27 students from 14 countries are participating in the course, with one common aim: to serve as military observers on international missions under the aegis of the UN in the interest of preserving peace.
International Selection in the Air
11:17 April 28, 2026
Special helicopters occupied the sky, crossing the clouds with spectacular manoeuvres. Spanish and Hungarian aircraft showed what cutting-edge technology and precision are capable of.
Special Insight
14:29 April 27, 2026
Organized by the United States Military Group of the U.S. Embassy Budapest, bloggers recently watched the dynamic moments of Exercise Jolly Vihar 2026, participated in a static display, observed the American rotorcraft and shared their experiences with servicemembers participating in the exercise.
Preparing for the NATO Tiger Meet Exercise
12:18 April 27, 2026
As of 4 May, the HDF 101st Aviation Wing will be representing the Hungarian Defence Forces with JAS 39 Gripens at Araxon Air Base, Greece during the NATO Tiger Meet 2026, one of the best-known international exercises of air forces.
Air Formula-1
11:51 April 27, 2026
Hungary receives the fastest in the world on land, at sea and in the air. In addition to the Hungaroring and the Duna Arena, the HDF Joint Forces Training Centre’s Kőröshegy shooting range hosts the “international field”.
Ready for international competitions as well
11:32 April 27, 2026
After monthslong tough training, a patrol team made up of six reservists has been formed to represent the Hungarian Defence Forces at domestic and international competitions. The members of the team include Reserve Sergeant First Class Tamás Bérdi, a soldier of the 46th Territorial Defence Battalion of the HDF 4th Territorial Defence Regiment.
Speaking the same language
12:55 April 24, 2026
Imaginary mine explosion, passing through illegal checkpoints, continuous observation – all this happened not on the set of an action-packed war movie but during a complex patrol exercise of the 47th International Military Observers Course. Twenty-six students participated in this serious test of physical and mental strength.
Continuous training
11:19 April 24, 2026
In the interest of skill retention and development, the Hungarian infantry company of the Hungarian-led multinational NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group (FLF BG HUN) held a unit cohesion training event. During the training sessions, the company operating under the 2nd Grenadier Battalion of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade practiced how to react to various combat situations, conduct seize and hold operations and perform patrol duties.