Hungary’s largest-ever military industry project began on Thursday in the western town of Zalaegerszeg, where the Hungarian Air Force, using a recently acquired H145M utility helicopter, laid the foundation stone of the factory that will produce Rheinmetall infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), defense portal Honvédelem writes .
As we reported earlier, in August, the Hungarian government signed an agreement with German defense contractor Rheinmetall, according to which a joint venture will be established in Hungary for the production of Lynx infantry combat vehicles.
In September, Colonel-General Ferenc Korom, Commander of the Hungarian Armed Forces, and Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, signed a contract for the Hungarian Armed Forces for the production of 218 Lynx KF41 combat vehicles. The contract also stipulates that the vast majority of the vehicles, 172 units, will be manufactured at the factory in Zalaegerszeg.
“Laying the foundation of the Lynx factory is the opening of a large-scale development that is important not only for the city and the region, but also for the country as a whole. Today, our NATO allies look up to us and see as exemplary everything that is happening here,” Defense Minister Tibor Benkő said at the ceremony. He added that the Lynx plant is neither the first nor the last military investment in the country. Hungary is exploring further long-term opportunities for the development of its military industry, which can also give an impetus to other industrial sectors.
The factory in Zalaegerszeg is part of Hungary’s sweeping armed forces modernization program, Zrínyi 2026, launched in 2016; under this, the country has so far purchased transport aircraft, light and medium helicopters , main battle tanks , self-propelled howitzers , anti-aircraft batteries and small arms. The total cost of the modernization program is estimated at 3.5 trillion forints (€10 billion).
The ceremony also included a demonstration of the capabilities of the Lynx IFV. The armored vehicle, capable of carrying up to 10 soldiers, can be equipped with an autocannon, machine gun and guided missiles, and its 1,140-horsepower engine can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and cover 500 kilometers with a single tank of fuel.
The Lynx project alone has a value of €2 billion ($2.38 billion).
Title image: Lynx IFV demonstration in Zalaegerszeg, western Hungary. (source: László Kertész)
