Hungarian Military Success at the Leapfest 2025 Competition

The competition was held in early August, and the preceding preparation period was between 28 July and 5 August. Following the traditions, the venue of the jumps was the Glenrock Drop Zone in Rhode Island.

Leapfest is the oldest and most well-known military airborne competition in the world. It was first held in the United States in 1982, and since then, except for a few occasions, it has taken place every year. The 2025 competition was the 40th occasion when paratroopers had the opportunity to compare their skills at this high-ranking international contest. From the beginning, the organizer has been the Rhode Island National Guard’s 56th battalion, which constantly guarantees the professional and logistical background to the competition.

The event aims to strengthen international military cooperation and provide an opportunity for competition among the paratroopers of armed forces from around the world. The peculiarity of Leapfest is that it measures not only physical preparedness and airborne professional knowledge, but also precision and teamwork. Participants performed bonded leaps from CH-47 Chinook military helicopters, with MC-6 parachutes, from a 450 m altitude. The aim was to reach the four landing points, marked with X, within the Glenrock Drop Zone and touch them as soon as possible.

At the 2025 competition, 54 teams, 19 nations and nearly 220 paratroopers participated, which well shows the international significance and prestige of the event. The performance of the Hungarian special operations personnel proves not only the outstanding preparedness, but also that they can perform well in international competitions.

The outstanding Hungarian result is another proof that the servicemembers of the Hungarian Defence Forces can also do well on the international stage, and with their performance, further spread Hungary’s fame in the special operations and airborne community.