Hungarian Gripens will continue safeguarding Slovakia’s airspace next year

Hungary remains committed to the participation in air policing tasks of the neighboring country until Slovakia rebuilds its own national fighter aircraft capability – stated Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. He said that in 2024, Hungary was being actively engaged in carrying out the air policing tasks of Slovakia, and under an agreement he signed together with Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák in Kecskemét, the Hungarian air force would participate in protecting Slovakia’s airspace in 2025 as well. The minister of defence emphasized that through this participation, Hungary is contributing to the security of NATO and that of the whole European Union. He added that the development of joint defence capabilities and mutual support are indispensable for preserving the stability of the region of Central Europe.

He noted that the Hungarian air force had already carried out tasks in Slovak airspace earlier, during alpha and tango scrambles.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky pointed out that in order to fulfil our obligations in NATO, Hungarian Gripens have been present in Slovak, Slovenian and – every three years – in the Baltic airspace for years. In 2025, on the fourth occasion, the Hungarian air force will carry out tasks in the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission – stated the minister. At the meeting, the Slovak and the Hungarian ministers highlighted the importance of closing the Russo-Ukrainian War as soon as possible, and held a discussion on cooperation within the framework of NATO, with special regard to the Székesfehérvár-based Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C), where soldiers of both countries are serving. Besides, they discussed the development of bilateral relations, including the possibilities for organizing joint military exercises for the armed forces of the two countries.