"We are strengthening our defense cooperation with Sweden. The Hungarian Air Force will be expanded with four new JAS-39 Gripen fighters, significantly increasing our air defense capabilities," announced Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács. Swedish Prime Minister arrived in Budapest on Friday. Ulf Kristersson and Viktor Orbán agreed that closer cooperation between the two countries is necessary. On Monday, the Hungarian parliament is to ratify Sweden's application for NATO membership.

JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets of the Hungarian Armed Forces. Photo by Zoltan Mathe/MTI/PAP/EPA

- Hungary is expanding the Gripen fighter-bomber aircraft fleet of the Hungarian Armed Forces with four more aircraft - announced Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during the joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Budapest on Friday.

In addition to the existing 14 JAS-39 Gripen, the Hungarian Armed Forces will be strengthened with four additional JAS-39Cs. According to the Hungarian Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the high-tech multi-functional combat aircraft "has outstanding characteristics, both in terms of air combat, effectiveness against ground targets, and operation." As the Ministry of Defense emphasized in a statement, Hungarian JAS-39 fighters have already successfully protected the airspace of the Baltic countries three times as part of the NATO (Baltic Air Policing) mission and in 2025 they will protect it again.

Ulf Kristersson and Viktor Orbán agreed that closer cooperation between the two countries is necessary. PM Orbán said that Sweden was a true friend of Hungary in 1956, when the fleeing Hungarians were given not only food, but also a second home. He added that the present also looks good: according to Orbán, the record for trade cooperation between the two countries is broken every year and 70,000 Swedes came to Hungary as tourists last year.

(J)