Speaking at a ceremony held on Kecskemét Air Base on Monday, 17 August, Minister of Defence Csaba Hende stated that the Hungary’s participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission is an important task. During the event, the contingent was bidden farewell before leaving for a four-month mission on 27 August.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by Ambassador of the United States Colleen Bell. Minister of Defence Csaba Hende emphasized that as a member of NATO, Hungary is committed to the development of its armed forces, so that beyond defending itself, it can contribute to common defence as well. These days the Baltic airspace has become the most complex airspace in Europe and perhaps in NATO as a whole, the Minister said referring to the tense international situation due to the crisis in Ukraine.
The Hungarian quick reaction alert (QRA) unit is going to deploy four Gripen fighter planes to Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania and will be flying its missions from there for four months. The number of personnel to be deployed in several rotations is over 100, most of them serve at the HDF 59th “Dezső Szentgyörgyi” Air Base in Kecskemét.