Hungarian Air Force

Hungarian Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
	; Hungarian Air Force logo
Active	1918 –
Country	Hungary
Type	air force
Size	5000; 94 aircraft
Garrison/HQ	Budapest
Colors	red, white, green
Commanders
Current; commander	Brigadier General Albert Sáfár
Insignia
Roundel
Low visibility roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mi-24, Aero L-159
Fighter	JAS-39 (Multirole fighter)
Interceptor	JAS-39
Trainer	Yak-52 , Aero L-159 , Robinson R44
Transport	An-26, C-17 Globemaster III, Mi-8, Mi-17,

The Hungarian Air Force (Hungarian: Magyar Légierő) is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.

History

1918 to Pre–World War II

Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools. This air arm became the Hungarian Red Air Force under the short lived Hungarian Soviet Republic, but was disbanded upon its downfall. [1]

World War II

Under the Treaty of Trianon (1920), Hungary was forbidden from owning military aircraft. However, a secret air arm was gradually established under the cover of civilian flying clubs. During 1938, the existence of the Royal Hungarian Air Force (Hungarian: Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierő), was made known. The air arm was reorganized and expanded. On 1 January 1939, it became independent of the army. It subsequently participated in clashes with the newly established Slovak Republic and in the border confrontation with the Kingdom of Romania. In April 1941, operations were conducted in support of the German invasion of Yugoslavia and, on 27 June 1941, Hungary declared war on the Soviet Union. On 1 March 1942, the air force was returned to army control. In the summer of 1942, an air brigade was attached to the Luftwaffe's VIII. Fliegerkorps on the Eastern Front. Beginning March 1944, Allied bomber raids began on Hungary and progressively increased in intensity. Late in 1944 all efforts were redirected towards countering the advancing Red Army, but to no avail. All fighting in Hungary ended on 16 April 1945. [2]

Post–World War II to Present

A small air arm was organised along Soviet lines during 1947. Following the communist takeover, Russian military aid was stepped-up and a major expansion program initiated. When Soviet forces invaded to suppress the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, sections of the Hungarian Air Force attacked Soviet forces and resisted Russian attempts to occupy their bases. The resistance was short-lived and the air force was demobilized soon after. A reconstituted air arm was reformed in the following year, but initially only as an internal security force. Gradually, the air force was expanded again, but it remained an integral part of the army and was essentially a defensive force. The Soviets kept MIG 29s based at Tokol until 1991 to defend Hungarian airspace.

In mid-1993, three batches of the MIG 29s were delivered from Russia. They were based at Kecskemet. In 1994, a German gift of 20 MIL 24D/V's and 20 L-39's were donated. In 1997, Hungary undertook its first flying training course since 1956. The cost of the course was too high and was halted after the completion of only one course. Also in 1997 the MIG 23s and SU 22s were withdrawn from service. During the 1990s all combat aircraft were fitted with new Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems to enable operations in Western airspace. In April 2002, Hungary joined the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) pilot training program. [3]

Present day

The current Hungarian Air Force is primarily just for defensive purposes. The flying units of the air force are organised into a single command, Air Command.

Air Bases

There are 3 Air Force bases (AFB) in Hungary.

Kecskemét AFB
Szolnok AFB
Pápa AFB, 3 C-17 Globemaster aircraft to be based at Pápa as NATO flying unit with Hungarian marking and international crew

Air Wings

Currently, there are only 4 operational, and 1 recently disbanded, air wings in the Air Force.

59th "Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Tactical Wing (59. " Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Harcászati Repülőbázis) based at Kecskemét AFB
- 'Puma' Tactical Squadron ('Puma' Harcászati Repülőszázad)
- 'Dongó' ('Bumblebee') Tactical Squadron ('Dongó' Harcászati Repülőszázad)
- Transport Plane Squadron (Szállító Repülőszázad)
86th "Szolnok" Helicopter Base (86. Helikopterezred) based at Szolnok AFB.
- Transport Helicopter Battalion (Szállitóhelikopter Zászlóalj)
- Attack Helicopter Battalion (Harcihelikopter Zászlóalj) (Disbanded)
- Training Plane Squadron (Kiképző Repülőszázad) (based at Szolnok AFB)
12th Air Defense Missile Regiment (12. Légvédelmi Rakétaezred)
1st Logistic and Support Battalion (1. Logisztikai és Támogató Zászlóalj)
Pápa AFB

59. "Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Tactical Wing

JAS 39 of the Hungarian Air Force

The 59th Tactical Fighter Wing is the fixed-winged part of the Air Force. The 59th consists of 2 Fighter plane Squadrons and 1 Transport Squadron.

Tactical Squadron

There are two Fighter Squadrons in the 59th Wing, the "Puma" [cougar] and "Dongó" [bumblebee] Squadrons. The 1st SQN operates the JAS-39 and the 2nd SQN operates the MiG-29. The 3rd squadron is the air-transport squadron with AN-26.

The Hungarian Air Force is leasing-buying 14 JAS 39 Gripens, 2 of which are dual-seaters, for 12 years beginning in 2006. By December 2007 all the 14 jets had been delivered.

After the lease period expires, Hungary will own the Gripen.

Transport Squadron

This is the transport squadron of the 59th Wing. They operate:

An-26

Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS39D Gripen at RIAT 2009

The An-26s are due to be replaced by new transport planes after 2011–2015.

86th "Szolnok" Helicopter Wing

The 86th Wing is the helicopter regiment of the Hungarian Air Force. The 86th consists of one Transport and one Attack battalion.

Transport Helicopter Battalion

This is the transport helicopter battalion of the 86th Wing. They operate:

Combat Helicopter Battalion

This is the attack helicopter battalion of the 86th Wing. This unit has recently been disbanded and a new regiment, in combination with the transport helicopters, will be formed. They operated:

Mi-24D/V/P

Training Squadron

This is the training squadron of the 86th Wing. This squadron is already based at Szolnok AFB again. They operate:

Yak-52

12th Air Defense Missile Brigade

The 12th Air Defense Missile Brigade is in charge of providing air defense to parts of Hungary.

NIIP/Vympel 2K12 "Kub". Mobile Surface-to-air missile battlefild (SAM) system. (To be refurbished with modernized BUK missiles or replaced entirely with the US Patriot system, provided the economic situation allows procurement.)
Mistral missiles, a French-made lightweight SAM system with dual launchers and radar sets mounted on Unimog all-terrain vehicles.
36D6 Tin Shield. All-altitude surveillance radar, modernized with domestically developed digital electronics suite.

During the Cold War period communist Hungary had numerous SA-2, SA-3 and SA-4 batteries and a large number of radar installations, mostly tasked with defending the Danube line against NATO air strikes.

1st Logistic and Support Battalion

The 1st Logistic and Support Battalion was established on 1 October 2000 by the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF). Its goal is to provide the operating conditions of the Air Force Command, as well as organizing and executing the related activities. Conducting garrison duties, executing a partially independent financial management, and supplying the designated military organization. Procuring, storing, handling and maintaining the material stocks of the HDF Air Force Command and the Regiment, and preparing the subordinate units by establishing the basis for higher readiness level. [4]

Pápa AFB

Pápa Air Force Base was established as a military organization on 1 July 2001 as a part of national commitments in the NATO Infrastructural Development Program, and it is the legal successor of the HDF 47th Pápa Tactical Fighter Regiment.

Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In active service	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Saab JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	fighter trainer	JAS 39C JAS 39D	12¹ 2¹	With completely new system software fit, known as Version 19.
Transport
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III	United States	NATO strategic transport	C-17A	3	Under NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) program with Hungarian Air force marking and international staff.
Antonov An-26	Ukraine	tactical transport	An-26	5¹	to be replaced between 2011–2014, C-27J or second-hand C-130H.
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	attack / trainer	L-39ZO	8	12 new built and 20 former East German Air Force delivered.
Aero L-159 Alca	Czech Republic	attack / trainer	L-159B	2²	since 2003 (hired from the Czech Air Force)
Yakovlev Yak-52	Soviet Union	trainer	Yak-52	11
Training Helicopter
Robinson R44	United States	training helicopter	R44	3
Transport and Attack Helicopters
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union Finland	transport helicopter	Mi-17N MI-17P Mi-8T	2 5 2	All Mi-17s upgraded. 2 Finnish Air Force Mi-8Ts were donated by Finland in August 2011.^{citation needed}
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-8	8	10 more new helicopters will be ordered in 2011 to replace the Mi-8s. Some Mi-8s were sold to Ethiopia and Peru.
Mil Mi-24	Soviet Union Germany	attack helicopter	Mi-24D Mi-24V Mi-24P	12¹	Germany inherited 51 Mi-24 from GDR some sold to Hungary. All Mi-24V will be upgraded to Mi-35 after 2010. (NATO caliber development process )
UAV's
Elbit Skylark	Israel	UAV	Skylark I	9	Hand-launched "disposable" mini electric UAV for the Afghan theatre ground troops. One was shot down in combat in Afghanistan.

There are also a number of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21's, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23's, Sukhoi Su-22's and MiG-29's in stock. These are being stored open air and no longer airworthy.

Aircraft markings

The Hungarian aircraft marking is a set of aligned triangles which points toward the front of the aircraft. They are the same colour as the Hungarian flag, red, white, and green. The innermost triangle is green, follow by white, and then red. It is displayed on the side of helicopters and in the standard four wing positions on aircraft. It was used by the Royal Hungarian Air Force until 1942, and then reinstated after the Second World War. The new Gripen fighters will wear a NATO standard compliant grey-on-grey (low-visibility) version of the Hungarian triangle insignia.

Museums

The 86th "Szolnok" Helikopterezred maintains the Museum of Hungarian Aviation, which has the largest collection of "retired" military aircraft in Hungary. Some aircraft are also displayed at the Kecel Military History Park.

Gallery

Roundels

First roundel of the Hungarian Red Air Force in 1919.
Second roundel of the Hungarian Red Air Force in 1919.
Third roundel of the Hungarian Red Air Force in 1919.
Roundel of the Royal Hungarian Air Force between 1938 – 1941.
Roundel of the Royal Hungarian Air Force between 1942 – 1945.
Roundel of the Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army between 1948 – 1949.
Roundel of the Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army between 1949 – 1951.
Roundel of the Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army between 1951 – 1990.
Roundel of the Hungarian Air Force between 1990 – 1991.
Roundel of the Hungarian Air Force from 1991.
Roundel of the Hungarian Air Force, low visibility version.

Hungarian L-39 Albatros
Hungarian Mi-24

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Directory: World Air Forces". Flight International. 2009-12-15.
^ János Látó, "Negyedik generációs tréner", Aeromagazin (7), 2004, pp. 28–30

External links

[FI09-0] "Directory: World Air Forces". Flight International. 2009-12-15.

[1] János Látó, "Negyedik generációs tréner", Aeromagazin (7), 2004, pp. 28–30

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