Two Hundred Successful Operations

This year is special because the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The organization is working to preserve peace and security with the cooperation of its 32 member states. The NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (ISR Force) is a unique subunit, operated by 25 member states. Via collecting, processing and sharing reconnaissance data, it greatly contributes to the demonstration of the efficient collective defence capabilities of the Alliance.

The progressive international subunit, which performs special tasks, carried out its 200th jubilee operation with Hungarian soldiers in its personnel. This success became possible due to learning, experience processing and fine-tuning the organizational structure and the operational procedures. The subunit operating under NATO Allied Command Operations (ACO) and NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) uses five uniquely designed RQ-4D Global Hawk surveillance aircraft, which count as the largest state-of-the-art models in their category. Thanks to their exceptionally favourable aerodynamic characteristics, the aircraft provide a high-altitude (above 18,000 m), long-range (even 16,000 km) and long endurance (even 32 hours) surveillance capability to experts planning military operations and decision makers.

As an integrated part of the international team, a Hungarian military contingent of five is in operation, headed by Major János Koch. The Hungarian experts contribute to the efficient operation of the subunit via their work from training through aviation and air operations to ISR image analysis. Some members of the contingent personnel received awards for their participation in the maritime security operations in the Mediterranean territory; Chief Warrant Officer István Tóth became the NCO of the year in 2022 at NATO ISR Force and Captain Artúr Papp, Chief Warrant Officer István Tóth and Warrant Officer Sándor Nagy received the NATO Operation Sea Guardian 2023 award.

Hungary has been a valuable and internationally recognized member of NATO for 25 years. During the past 25 years, we have proved that as an active and committed ally, we contribute to the Alliance reaching its goals through military technology developments and engagement in international cooperations similar to the activity of the Hungarian military contingent in Sicily.