The Defence Budget Still Guarantees Hungary’s Security and Armed Forces Development

Defence expenditures in 2025 make up HUF 1,752.3 billion, so, these reach 2% of the GDP set by NATO, meeting the Alliance’s guideline again. The defence budget was drawn up still overshadowed by the war but in the hope of the forthcoming peace. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that a HUF 1,939.3 billion estimate of expenditure has been accepted for defence and sports tasks in the 2025 budget. As for the defence tasks, next year’s budget guarantees the continuing development and maintenance of the modern and digital 21st-century armed forces. Resources earmarked for 2025 make it possible to continue the armed forces development program concerning all branches, the renewal of soldiers’ personal equipment and the generation of defined capabilities, he added.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky underlined that next year within the framework of the Zrínyi Defence and Military Development Program, the focus will be on developing the soldiers’ equipment so that they conform to the requirements of our time, as well as on the complete implementation of the ongoing capability development programs, also keeping the NATO Capability Targets in mind. To renew the armed forces, the distinguished goals of 2025 include the development of air force capabilities, the continuing procurement of rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and the improvement of air defence and airspace control capabilities.

The minister added that next year, the development of land forces capabilities would be continued and the units’ command and control conditions will be further provided. Related to the infrastructural tasks, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that a hangar complex would be built (in Szolnok) to support the air force, while the infrastructural developments of the mechanized infantry capability and those promoting the expansion of the tank and artillery capabilities will be continued to support the land forces.