First Hungarian KC-390 military transport aircraft arrives in Hungary

Speaking at a press conference held on Kecskemét airbase, the politician said that the Hungarian Defence Forces are living in a period of transformations and technological renewals. He added that thanks to the armed forces development program, the HDF units receive state-of-the-art military equipment. The state secretary pointed out that air policing and air defence are highly significant, therefore the modernization of the air force is the number one priority in this development period. He said that this year the Hungarian Defence Forces would procure two Embraer KC-390 transport aircraft, which are scheduled to arrive in Hungary as their home station at the end of this year and next year, respectively. At present, one of them is staying for three weeks at Kecskemét in the last phase of the testing period.

Zsolt Kutnyánszky drew attention to the fact that in addition to the acquired assets, there is a need for well-trained Hungarian soldiers as well. The Hungarian Defence Forces are proud of their soldiers, and “the pilots of the air force are among the best ones”, he pointed out. The state secretary also noted that the government of Hungary is implementing a significant salary increase to reward the HDF pilots and air traffic controllers/intercept controllers for their responsible work. The most seasoned pilots may earn a gross HUF 2.5-3 billion per month in a high pay grade, stated Zsolt Kutnyánszky. He added that the present opportunity to join the Hungarian Defence Forces is a good one, and went on saying that “Now is the time to be a soldier”. He pointed out that he hopes that the military equipment to be delivered and the new combat techniques will make the Hungarian Defence Forces even more appealing to young people.

Speaking about the new transport aircraft, Zsolt Kutnyánszky said that it can be configured to carry 80 troops in fighting order and also to accommodate an Intensive Care Unit/Patient Transport Unit with beds. It can transport up to 26 tons of payload, and is suitable for cargo airdrop as well as for air-to-air refueling – said the state secretary, adding that the 35-meter-long aircraft has a maximum speed of 800 km/h, and its service ceiling may even reach 8000 meters.