Viktor Orbán’s conservative cabinet held a meeting dedicated to defense development at the Hajmáskér training facility in Central Hungary on Thursday, daily Magyar Hírlap reports.
As part of its extensive “Zrínyi 2026” armed forces modernization program launched in 2017, Hungary has so far purchased 44 German-made Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks, new integrated air defense missile systems, 24 PzH Self-Propelled Howitzers, 20 H145M light utility helicopters, and over 200 Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and is completely replacing its troops’ small arms in a cooperation and licensing deal with Czeska Zbrojovka. The country also plans to add several hundred Turkish armored combat vehicles.
After the meeting, the cabinet members witnessed a short military exercise at the training ground. Besides the above-mentioned massive equipment upgrades, Hungary is also extending its reserve forces and is well on track to meet NATO’s 2 percent of GDP defense spending requirement.
At the end of 2020, the Hungarian Armed Forces’ active military personnel stood at 22,700, with the goal of raising that number to 37,650 by 2026.
