“We also discussed the procurement of HIMARS rockets in Washington”

The minister of defence – who answered questions from the public media during the return flight to Hungary after Friday’s meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House – noted that by now the negotiations in Washington have removed the obstacles the Biden administration used against Hungary for political reasons in case of armament purchases and military industrial procurements. The minister added that the earlier Democratic administration had also rejected the fulfilment of planned procurements, which included orders already paid in some cases.

As he said, at the latest discussions in Washington, the Trump administration had made it clear that Hungary would be able to procure the technology and other equipment it needs in the areas where it is needed. “We have a list, a 10-year military development plan that includes planned procurements in a wide variety of fields” – added Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. “Of them, there are some cases in which the American one is the best and most stable solution in all likelihood, and rocket artillery is among these” – he stated.

In answer to a question from the public media whether HIMARS is on the list, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that yes, the HIMARS rocket artillery system is a capability that “is capable of extending Hungary’s strategic-defensive web of deterrence farther than the current one. This would be very valuable. Indeed, HIMARS is the technology which we consider to be the most probable solution” – he stated.

When asked about the news in 2023 that Hungary was purchasing HIMARS rocket artillery systems from the United States, with leaked information mentioning 20-24 artillery systems and 100 rockets, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky responded that this is not the exact number, but in terms of order of magnitude, this is approximately the case, and that the purchase of all of these requires prior authorization from the U.S. Congress. The minister pointed out that the procurement of artillery equipment and rockets is a long process, even when congressional authorization has already been obtained.

In response to a question from the public media, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that preliminary negotiations had already been conducted and that he had now also held talks at the Pentagon in Washington. He estimated that the process would take 3-5 years, which he said was “theoretically conceivable.” This is because HIMARS is a highly sought-after weapon system, and there is a “waiting list” for procurements, hence it is not possible to give an exact deadline, he said.

Speaking about procurement costs, in answering a question from the public media whether their sum total could approximate HUF 1200 billion or more, the minister said that it cannot yet exactly be calculated at this point as it depends on a great many factors. Beyond the concrete procurement price of equipment purchases, related infrastructural developments as well as the training, recruitment and other costs will also factor into it. Therefore, this is a highly complex system, and the procurement will likewise be very complex, so the sum total will depend on the exchange rate, the timing and the delivery deadlines as well – said the minister of defence.