Military Helicopters Take on Defense Tasks in the East of the Country

The deployment of soldiers has begun to strengthen the protection of the country’s critical infrastructure. The “Kiss József” 86th Helicopter Brigade, stationed at the Nyíregyháza airport, is also playing its part in military defense, performing defense tasks in the eastern part of the country.

After a meeting convened to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced on February 26 that the helicopter capacity deployed in the eastern part of the country would be doubled.

Soldier standing next to an Airbus H225M helicopter at Nyíregyháza Airport on March 1, 2026. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

Major Péter Freytag, helicopter pilot at the Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade, said: “The designated forces and assets of the Hungarian Defense Forces, in close cooperation with the internal affairs authorities, are responsible for the guarding and protection of key energy infrastructure, both on the ground and in the air.”

Péter Freytag at the press conference at Nyíregyháza Airport. Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

The soldiers from Szolnok are primarily responsible for protecting the airspace in Nyíregyháza.

Their tasks include drone defense and the identification and forced landing of any unknown, unidentifiable aircraft or aerial devices.

The H225M and H145M helicopters are designed to intercept aircraft flying into Hungarian territory that are too slow and too low to be intercepted by the air defense forces on duty.

Photo: honvedelem.hu

The technical staff of the Szolnok brigade, together with the crews of the H225M and H145M Airbus helicopters, have also been deployed to the airport, and their special vehicles are also on site.

The aim of the current measures is for the Hungarian Defense Forces to guarantee the security of the country’s key infrastructure through a reinforced ground and air presence.

Since Sunday, soldiers of the Hungarian Defense Forces have begun guarding key energy facilities such as the Algyő gas storage facility and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

Soldiers of the “Kinizsi Pál” 30th Armored Infantry Brigade at the Hexum Földgáz Zrt. site in Algyő-Szőreg on March 1, 2026. Photo: MTI/Rosta Tibor

Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky visited the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday to consult with the head of the facility’s security organization and military commanders. The politician told M1 television that

they had ordered the securing of 20 locations, with an additional 40 to follow.

Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky at a briefing for the unit assigned to protect the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on March 1, 2026. Photo: MTI/Kacsúr Tamás

The Hungarian Defense Forces’ SOC-R boat patrols the Danube in the Paks area on March 1, 2026. Photo: MTI/Kacsúr Tamás

Fact

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced after Wednesday’s meeting of the Defense Council that he had ordered the strengthening of the protection of critical energy infrastructure. Soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks will also be deployed near key energy facilities.

The police are patrolling the areas around designated power plants, distribution stations, and control centers with increased forces. A ban on drone flights has been imposed in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County.

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