Topping-Out Ceremony Marks Completion of High-tech Special Ops Barracks

One year after laying the foundation stone, the Hungarian Defense Forces celebrated a strategic milestone. A state-of-the-art base for special operations is being built in Szolnok (central Hungary) at a cost of 59 billion forints (156 million euros). Hungary is preparing for the challenges of a new era of security, Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized at the topping-out ceremony on Tuesday.

While construction work on Thököly Street in Szolnok is progressing rapidly, the traditional topping-out ceremony sent a clear signal. The topping-out wreath on the roof of the tallest tower symbolizes not only the progress of construction, but also the rapid transformation of the Hungarian armed forces.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky took stock during the ceremony. He recalled that before 2010, the armed forces were dependent on dilapidated Soviet technology. However, he said that the last four years had seen the “most spectacular phase of armed forces development.” Both the land forces and the air force are now almost completely modernized.

For us, the security of Hungary is the most important thing. We promised strength, and we have built strength,” the minister explained.

The new barracks are much more than just a place to house soldiers. It will be the heart of the Regional Special Operations Component Command (R-SOCC).

This is a multinational special forces command in which Hungary plays a leading role. In close partnership with Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Austria, elite units are coordinated here to increase the security of the entire region.

Photo: MTI/Mészáros János

Colonel General Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the Hungarian Defense Staff, described the base as the “most modern base for special operations in the region.”

The facility ensures the safe storage and maintenance of drones, state-of-the-art weapon systems, and armored vehicles; the highest standards of information protection; and conditions for special training and constant operational readiness.

In addition to the technical upgrades, the minister also highlighted the success in personnel recruitment. Since the launch of a large-scale campaign, the armed forces have already welcomed their 8,000th new contract partner for the reserve component. He emphasized that the majority of these forces are already fully trained and ready for deployment.

Against the backdrop of the war in neighboring Ukraine, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized the importance of military strength as a means of deterrence. The Hungarian government’s goal, he said, is to ensure that the country is not drawn into armed conflict. A strong, independent, and modern armed force is the best guarantee of this, according to the minister.

With the completion of the shell construction by the construction company ZÁÉV Zrt., the project is now entering the home stretch. However, the expansion of the Hungarian armed forces will continue – further construction projects throughout the country are already in the planning stage.

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