Soaring Cooperation

Saab AB’s new center in Budapest strengthens Hungarian defence industry

Text: Bettina Sin | Photo: Gábor Nagy | 11:40 February 20, 2025

The partnership between Hungary and Saab AG dates back to 2001. This was the year when Hungary ordered the first batch of Gripen fighter aircraft. On 18 February 2025, the defence equipment and aircraft manufacturing company opened a new office in Budapest. In the future, the Hungarian Defence Forces, the Swedish company and the players of Hungarian defence industry will pay special attention to the development of avionics. To this end, they will establish a joint Air Capability Development Center as well.

“The world we live in is more and more unpredictable and complex. The conflicts around us remind us of our vulnerability and the need for strengthening our defence” – said MoD State Secretary for Force Development and Defence Policy Dr. Zsolt Kutnyánszky at the opening of the Saab office in Budapest.

“Our most important bastions are our own military capabilities and experts. At the same time, strong alliances make us even more resilient” – emphasized Dr. Zsolt Kutnyánszky. “That is why we have decided to establish a Swedish-Hungarian Air Capability Development Center in Budapest together with Saab in the interest of our long-term cooperation. This institute, which is to be completed by the end of 2025, will open up huge possibilities for Hungarian aircraft industry as well as in the fields of innovation, scientific research and education, as it will connect the government, the industry and the academy” – said the state secretary.

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Saab Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Aeronautics Lars Tossman pointed out that Sweden is deepening its cooperation with Hungary by opening the new Budapest office. “The opening of the new office and the establishment of the Air Capability Development Center is a win-win for all of us, be it about projects on virtual reality, exploring new possibilities in the field of artificial intelligence, or software development” – said the head of the business area. Initially, the new center will employ 20-30 experts, but Saab intends to increase its staff numbers to 100 in the long term.

Saab opens a new office in Budapest