Our Gripens Halfway Through Their Baltic Mission with over 50 Takeoffs

The Hungarian Defense Forces’ airspace surveillance mission in the Baltic states has reached the halfway point. After the first two months of their four-month deployment to secure the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the Hungarian Defense Forces are taking stock of their intensive work so far. Since August 1, the Air Force’s four JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets have been involved in a total of 54 alerts, including 11 live missions and 43 training takeoffs.

Hungary is leading the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, which runs until December 1, for the fourth time, acting as the lead nation in cooperation with the Spanish and Italian air forces, honvedelem.hu recalls.

Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky praised the efforts of the contingent, that consists of about 80 soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Péter Tősér. The politician emphasized that

Hungarian soldiers not only secured the airspace of the Baltic states, but also strengthened interoperability with other NATO forces.

The sharp alerts are triggered by the NATO Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany. They serve to intercept aircraft that do not comply with the applicable rules in international airspace – for instance, by not submitting a flight plan or interrupting radio contact with air traffic control. These missions underscore the need for constant Quick Reaction Alert readiness.

In parallel with the operational flights, the Hungarian contingent took part in several international exercises.

These included the “Furious Wolf” exercise in Estonia, in which 12 participating nations trained in providing direct air support to ground troops.

Joint flights with the air forces of the USA, France, Spain, and Italy further promoted professional development and military cooperation, explained the minister.

Jas-39 Gripen of the Hungarian Defense Forces. Photo: honvedelem.hu

Securing the airspace of the Baltic states is part of the collective defense of the NATO alliance. The fact that Hungary is leading this mission for the fourth time proves the reliability and capabilities of the Hungarian Air Force. These are designed in such a way that, in parallel with the mission in the Baltic States, it can also continuously ensure the airspace defense of Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia, the minister recalled.

Looking to the future, Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced earlier that

Hungary has already applied to lead another rotation in 2028.

The base in Siauliai has received prominent visitors in recent weeks, including the Lithuanian Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Hungarian General Staff. Hungarian soldiers are also actively involved in local community life in Lithuania, which further contributes to the good reputation of the Hungarian Defense Forces and NATO in the region.

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