Multinational Land Force (MLF)

The Hungarian-Italian-Slovenian Multinational Land Force (MLF) is a multinational brigade size unit, the idea for which was brought up by Italy in 1996. Several aims were determined by the participating nations at the establishmentof the unit: Tightening the Central and Eastern European states' cooperation; Strengthening the security and the defensive capability of the region; Increasing the presence of military capabilities in different peacekeepingoperations.

The three participating nations - Italy, Slovenia and Hungary signed a "Letter of Intent" on14 November 1997 in Budapest to prepare the set up of MLF. The next step happened in Udine on 18 April 1998 when the MLF came to life by the signatures of the chiefs of staffs. This time the TRILOG-98 exercise was carried out. The main aim of the exercise was to overview themilitary cooperation opportunities of the three countries in order to enhance the safety and security of Europe. The main goals were joint staff exercises and training. The next step was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding by the Defense Ministersin Italy (Udine) on 21 October 1999, which is the legal basis for the Hungarian staff element creating and locating at the Julia Alpine Brigade in Udine. A draft Technical Agreement, acommon act plan and a document implying the necessary organizational framework were signed as well.

It is a brigade size unit, which consists of light infantry subunits basically. Its task is participation in peace-support operations from the spectrum of humanitarian, search and rescue operations through peacekeeping tasks in crisis response operations up to battle operations. The planned area of operation of the MLF includes all Europe, but focused on the Middle East and around those areas of Southeastern Europe where extreme weather and terrain conditions are typical. The opportunity is opened for other countries to join the MLF and this unit will beemployed as a typical multinational peacekeeping force. For deployment of it, authorization of UN or OSCE is inevitable but it can be used by the request of NATO as well.

As the leading nation, Italy provides the commander of the task force and the 60 percent of the manpower of the staff. Hungary and Slovenia gives 20-20 percent of the staff and both of them give the Deputy Commander (DCOM) of the brigade. The Hungarian DCOM of the MLF is always the DCOM of the 5th Infantry Brigade deputy commander. In peacetime from the side of Hungary and Slovenia, there are two officers and one NCO in service who are the permanent staff element of the MLF in Udine. Maneuver units consist of an Italian regiment, a Hungarian infantry battalion and a Slovenian infantry battalion. While the Italian and Slovenian subunits are specialized in operations on maintained terrain, the Hungarian battalion with its heavy equipment mainly plays significant role on the light terrain, used as a rapid reaction, and show the power force. Combat support units are an Alpine artillery regiment, an engineer company,and if the task requires the MLF could be strengthened with an armored, reconcompany. Combat service units: The main subunits contain a logistic company, a medical company, an HQ support company, a signal company, an MP company and a National Support Element. The three nations have an agreement that the combat support and service units are provided by Italy.