Hungarian Land Forces / Magyar Honvédség - Modernization
The Hungarian Defence Forces are on the road to modernization. The 2012 National Military Strategy is a significant milestone on this road. Taking into consideration the possibilities, the Strategy provides an ambitious plan for the future of the defence force.
On 25 August 2014 in the morning hours, Excalibur Defense Ltd commenced transporting 58 T–72 tanks into the area of the Czech Republic. The tanks were withdrawn from service and have been purchased from the Hungarian Defence Forces. The customer is managing the transportation and has all the required licenses for the shipment of military equipment. Under the terms of the sales contract, the customer has strict liability because the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty) applies to all sales of tanks, and it must also comply with the concrete regulations imposed by the Hungarian laws. The customer is allowed to resell the tanks only in compliance with the relevant provisions of the CFE Treaty.
The CFE Treaty set a ceiling on the number of tanks that can be held by any one country and includes further provisions for reduction, withdrawal from service, storage, information exchange and verification. Hungary acted responsibly as it sold the disused tanks with the provision that they cannot be sold to a country against which embargo is enforced. After the transportation to the Czech Republic, in accordance with the CFE Treaty, the Czech authorities were under obligation and in charge of authorizing and monitoring the handling, use and resale of military equipment.
The strengthening of the Land Force was started under the Zrínyi 2026 Defense and Force Development Program. The largest defense and military development program of the last twenty-six years was launched by the Hungarian Defense Forces under the name Zrínyi 2026 from January 2017 - a ten-year defense and force development program.
It became clear at the beginning of 2016 that radical changes could be expected in defense procurement. This change has been marked by Defense and Security Procurement XXX. the law came into force, which came into force as an incredibly complex law (consisting of 180 sections), especially when we consider that essentially “only” means an exceptional procedure compared to the public procurement law (201), and there were also a lot of regulations at the field level. In addition, a number of lower-level standards changed in 2015 and 2016, which could be tracked in the Defense Bulletins.
As part of the military development, the Hungarian military industrywill also undergo intensive development, which should also have astimulating effect on the economy by creating new jobs. To help withthis, the Hungarian Defense Forces ordered 100 militarymodular buses from the Ikarus factory which could participate in border-related transportation. In the meantime, the Hungarian defense industryis seeking cooperation with EU and NATO partners.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) on 19 December 2018 to buy 44 new Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks (MBTs) and 12 additional Leopard 2 A4 models that used for training purposes. The Leopard 2 has been developed and used by the German army since the 1970s, and has been one of the world's best tanks for decades. The 120-millimeter Rheinmetall L / 55 gun inspired the design of many other tanks, not to mention the creation of a 62-tonne vehicle armor, and a 1500-hp engine capable of 72 kilometers per hour. First deliveries are expected after 2020.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract with Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) also included 24 Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self-propelled howitzers (SPH).
The Minister of Defense stressed that there has been a well-functioning and diverse relationship between the Hungarian and the German forces, which has been strengthened, and the government and the Defense Forces are determined to build a strong Hungarian Army. "For this, outside the soldiers, XXI. Century modern military technology is also needed. We strive to provide excellent tools in the hands of well-prepared soldiers. Tools manufactured by reliable partners" he added.
The Hungarian Defense Forces were also buying sixteen Airbus helicopters, and Airbus Defense and Space is installing an air defense missile management system in Hungary. The purchases also include 24 Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 self-propelled howitzers (SPH). The contract, is worth more than $565 million and included in addition 12 used Leopard 2A4 tanks for training purposes.
According to the Hungarian Ministry of Defense sources, the new combat vehicles will replace the in-service Soviet-era T-72 tanks and artillery systems. The self-propelled artillery was abolished under the socialist governments, which, with the current acquisition, appears again in the army of the Hungarian Defense Forces. The project represents a further step toward greater interoperability between European armed forces.
After the fall of communism, Hungary was left with about 500 BMP-1 and BRM-1K. These were scrapped in 2007, but probably a small number are still in stock (sometimes they can be seen in drills). The basic combat vehicles of the Hungarian army are wheeled BTR-80 and BTR-80A (to this day it is in operation and in the warehouses of the armed forces, border guards and police 380 units). However, they are obsolete and generally structurally unsuccessful vehicles. Some of them have been modernized, some have been converted to special versions. Because the Hungarian army's basic transporters were wheeled combat vehicles, Budapest was originally expected to prefer to buy the new Czech KBVP. It is even known that they have contacted several vehicle manufacturers in this class. In the long run the Ministry of Defense wants to get rid of Soviet military technology completely, so we will soon have to say goodbye to these relatively well-maintained, constantly refurbished troop carriers . There is a lot of rumor in military circles that the 8x8 Boxer multi-purpose armored combat vehicle developed by the international German-Dutch-British ARTEC consortium is the most likely to take over the armored supplier task in Hungary , but the Turkish FNSS Pars will have a good chance to start negotiations. 6x6 and 8x8 versions and perhaps even Brazilian Guarani APC, Austrian Pandur II and Finnish Patria AMV could be considered as successors to the BTRs.
In 2019, the Hungarian media reported that the Hungarian Armed Forces would buy about 200 track BVPs. There was speculation about German-made vehicles (there was even talk of intergovernmental negotiations), so the probable purchase of BVP Puma used by the Bundeswehr was mentioned . To everyone's surprise, in August 2020, the Hungarians chose the Lynx KF41. It was a great success for both parties. Rheinmetall acquired the first customer for its new BVP developed for its own money, which will probably help in negotiations with other potential buyers - after all, the first user was found.
The Hungarians bought a very modern, heavily armored, well-armed and spacious vehicle, and thanks to the establishment of a joint venture (Rheinmetall AG + Hungarian government; plant to be established in ZalaZONE Ipari Park Zrt. In Zalaegerszeg) army and for export if other buyers arise. It is known that the Hungarians bought 218 Lynx KF41 for more than two billion euros in a configuration with a Lance 2.0 turret, armed with a 30mm cannon MK-30-2 / ABM. The first batch is to be delivered in early 2023. The Hungarian BVP is likely to head to four mechanized battalions, which, according to Rheinmetall, should fully cover Hungarian needs in this regard.
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