Hungary has received its first batch of Airbus H225M light utility helicopters in what is a major step in the upgrade of the Hungarian armed forces, Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced at the Szolnok Air Base in central Hungary on Monday.
Sixteen H225M helicopters have been delivered, with the first two Airbus H225Ms of the medium transport configuration (Tactical Transport Helicopter – TTH) on display at Monday’s handover ceremony.
He noted that eight more of these aircraft will arrive, making a total of 10. In addition, the Special Operation Forces will receive six H225M helicopters, which will be equipped with the HForce weapons package, specially developed for the Hungarian Air Force.
This will include a 20mm machine gun, a 70mm missile canister, a complex navigation system, and, in the future, guided anti-tank missiles, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.
Personnel have received the theoretical part of the training required for the use of modern, high-tech helicopters, and the actual training can now start with the arrival of the aircraft. Szalay-Bobrovniczky explained that the training of airborne parachutists would also be a focus.
“The security situation in Europe will be radically different from before the war. There will be two very large, armed, and hardened forces in Hungary’s eastern neighborhood, and the southern borders are under constant pressure from illegal migration,” the Hungarian defense minister said.
“The Vilnius summit, which set out NATO’s new defense architecture, has just ended. These are all challenges that require a new Hungarian military force, including a highly capable Hungarian air force. Today is a milestone in achieving this,” he added.
