Hungarian Defence Forces Baltic Air Policing Mission reaches halfway point
Text: Ministry of Defence | Photo: archives | 12:14 October 6, 2025During the two months that have passed since 1 August, Hungarian Gripens have had 11 Alpha and 43 Tango scrambles. However, the Hungarian airmen not only provide airspace protection for the Baltic republics, but are also closely cooperating with NATO forces stationed in the region. Among other things, they have participated in exercises as well as in joint demo and training flights – declared Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that in cooperation with the Spanish and the Italian air forces under NATO command, Hungary as a lead nation has assumed air policing duties in the airspaces of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for four months, running until 1 December. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Péter Tősér, the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Baltic Air Policing Detachment of the Hungarian Defence Forces is stationed with approx. 80 airmen and four JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets at Siauliai air base in Lithuania.
Alpha scrambles are issued by the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Uedem, Germany, characteristically because it detects aircraft flying in international airspace that do not comply with air traffic rules, which means that they have not filed a flight plan, are not maintaining radio contact with air traffic control or do not use a transponder.
The minister of defence pointed out that besides performing QRA duties, the Hungarian detachment has also participated in several international exercises. For example, it practiced close air support for ground units during the training event Furious Wolf involving 12 nations in Estonia, and also conducted dynamic target management and aquatic survival training. The flights conducted together with the Spanish, Italian, French and US air forces included tactical, navigational, flypast and demo tasks, which promote professional development, the development of interoperability and the display of capabilities, and at once also strengthen the local population’s sense of security.
He added that in the spirit of collective defence, the allied countries have been guaranteeing airspace protection over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since their 2004 accession to NATO, in four-month rotations. The current Hungarian detachment is carrying out its tasks as the 69th rotation of the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission. After 2015, 2019 and 2022, Hungary is already participating in the mission on the fourth occasion, having been lead nation on all four occasions. Furthermore, our capabilities enable us to provide airspace protection in the airspaces of Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia as well, concurrently with our role in the BAP mission. The air force of the Hungarian Defence Forces is ready to guarantee the security of the Hungarian people.
Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky attended the handover-takeover ceremony of the BAP service in Lithuania on 31 July, where he announced that Hungary has submitted its application for leading another rotation of the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2028.
Siauliai air base in Lithuania, the Hungarian airmen’s duty station was visited by several other high-ranking guests in recent weeks, among them the minister of defence of Lithuania, the Canadian ambassador to Lithuania, Hungarian Deputy Defence Minister Tamás Vargha, General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff and members of the Security and Defence Committee of the Baltic Assembly.
Beyond their service duties, the Hungarian personnel are also actively participating in the life of the local community: through their presence at social and sporting events, they are further building the good reputation of the Hungarian Defence Forces and NATO in the Baltics – said the minister.
Press release of the Ministry of Defence
