Gripens “intercept” Hungarian media aircraft

Text: Vendel Teszler | Photo: Ákos Pintér | 13:12 November 14, 2025

An Airbus A319 transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces was flying home from a visit to the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania with editors, photographers, cameramen and spotters on board, when it “got intercepted” by Gripen fighter jets in the airspace of the Baltic state. This was to the passengers’ great delight, as this way, representatives of Hungarian media were able to photograph and film, close-up, the moments of interception carried out during a Tango (practice) scramble. As of 1 August, together with the Spanish and Italian air forces, Hungary’s JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets have been performing air policing tasks for four months in the airspace of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

On the media day organized at Siauliai Air Base, Contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Péter Tősér informed the audience about the task system of the 69th rotation of the HDF Baltic Air Policing Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Detachment. The three Baltic states joined NATO in 2004, but as they have no combat aircraft, since then the Alliance has been safeguarding their airspace. NATO member states perform air policing tasks in the Baltics together in four-month rotations. After 2015, 2019 and 2022, this is the fourth time that Hungary is participating in the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission as a lead nation on the fourth occasion.

Lieutenant Colonel Péter Tősér said that this year so far, they had 20 Alpha (live) scrambles. The HDF 101st Aviation Wing provides the Hungarian BAP detachment with four JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, of which two must be placed on continuous standby. Together with the Alpha and Tango scrambles, and the training flights, this year the Hungarian Gripens have logged in more than 350 flight hours in the Baltics. While serving in the mission, they already participated in several joint exercises and demo flights together with air forces of other nations. They have collected highly valuable lessons learned during the Alpha scrambles and interceptions, which were ordered because the Russian combat aircraft flout the air traffic rules in almost all cases.

Through their engagement in the Baltic Air Policing mission, the Hungarian Defence Forces are actively participating in the defence of NATO’s eastern flank.

After the commander’s briefing, the media representatives in Šiauliai had the opportunity to watch the ground phases of a Tango scramble and also the interception that took place already in the air, on their way home.

On the occasion of the media day, the Hungarian BAP detachment was also visited, among others, by Brigadier General Ferenc Könczöl, Commander, HDF 101st Aviation Wing and Chief Warrant Officer Tamás Zsiros, Command Sergeant Major of the Hungarian Defence Forces.