Another Gripen acquisition has been planned for a long time
2001-ben the first Orbán government also announced that in order to replace Hungary’s old Soviet fighter-bombers It modernizes the Hungarian Air Force with 14 JAS 39 Gripen fighter-bombers. The planes were eventually leased to the Hungarian Air Force, and the relevant contracts have currently been extended until 2026.
Although the idea that the JAS 39s, like many other countries, were American-made, fifth-generation For F-35 fighter-bombers should be replaced the idea was discarded – at least temporarily – during the time of the Minister of Defense Tibor Benkő, mainly because the acquisition and maintenance of the machine would have imposed huge costs on the Hungarian state treasury.
Gáspár Maróth, the former government commissioner responsible for defense developments, who was a key figure in the force development program that was linked to a higher level during the time of Tibor Benkő, announced in 2022:
the Gripens will remain, and the government has put into perspective the acquisition of a new squadron of Swedish fighter-bombers.
Although Benkő and Maróth were no longer given a meaningful role in the fifth Orbán government, The current Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed in December 2022: the procurement of the new Gripen generation is still planned.
Today Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced the purchase of 4 JAS 39C Gripen fighter-bombers After the meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. A squadron usually consists of 9-14 planes, so the purchase now will probably set the stage for a larger purchase.
It is worth noting: the Swedish-Hungarian military industry and military equipment procurement cooperation does not only cover air capabilities, Since 2019, the Hungarian Armed Forces have been using SAAB-Bofors Carl Gustaf M4 recoilless anti-tank weapons.
Why do we need new fighter-bombers?
Since 2015, a large-scale reform of the armed forces has been taking place in Hungary: we can witness the almost complete rearmament of the Hungarian Armed Forces and their adaptation to modern battlefield conditions. The goal is not only to replace existing equipment, but also to acquire new capabilities and equipment, to expand the existing arsenal of weapons, and to increase the number of troops.
The Hungarian Air Force does not only protect the Hungarian airspace: the Hungarian Gripens regularly take part in the air defense tasks of other countries under the auspices of NATO.
The Hungarian planes are frequent “guests” in the Baltic states, but the Gripens and pilots of the army also take part in the protection of Slovenian and Slovak airspace.
Currently, the Hungarian Air Force has 14 Gripens, the acquisition of four more aircraft will be of benefit mainly in that there will not be such a “vacuum” in our country’s air defense capabilities if four planes leave, for example, within the scope of the Baltic Air Policing mission To Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia (the national defense usually sends exactly 4 planes).
What can such a machine do?
Until now, Hungary has used the “C” variant of the JAS 39s, but it is important to note that in the last 20+ years there have been many developments in the capabilities of the fighter-bomber. Most recently, Hungary is one comprehensive software upgrade purchased for the machines, thanks to which the machines became compatible with modern air-to-ground missiles and air-to-air missiles. The new, MS20 Block 2 standard, the Gripens have become capable of long-range Meteor to launch anti-aircraft missiles, that is IRIS-T for the use of anti-aircraft missiles, or a GBU-49-en also for handling laser-guided air-to-ground bombs. In addition, there was a level jump in the planes’ communication systems and IFF systems, the latter of which helps the pilot to distinguish between friendly vehicles and enemy threats.
Being a fighter-bomber, the Gripens are capable of engaging both air and ground targets, They are equipped with 8 suspension points and a 27 mm machine gun. Their maximum speed is Mach 2, i.e. 2,100 kilometers per hour, and their maximum range is 3,200 kilometers. The machine can also be recharged in the air, the acquisition of the necessary capability for this is also in progress at the Hungarian Defense Forces, Brazil KC390in the form of transport machines.
The plane is therefore perfectly suited to protect Hungarian airspace and, if necessary, to neutralize land targets, but there are few of them for now. In addition to the Hungarian air force, the Swedes, Brazilians and South Africa also use Gripens, and several countries are interested in the possibility of regularization.
How much does it cost?
Contracts for arms procurement agreements are generally not public in Hungary, but sometimes defense industry companies publish the purchase price in their stock market reports. This has not yet happened, so the price of such a machine can be estimated based on previous purchases.
The EU estimated the price of the entire Gripen program at 1.84 billion euros for the Swedish Air Force alone, and according to the Swedish government’s calculations, keeping the planes in service until 2042 will consume another 5.38 billion euros at the current exchange rate. The Swedish Air Force now has a total of 71 Gripens in service and 60 new aircraft have been ordered.
The Aerotime recently estimated the purchase price of such a machine at 30 million dollars, i.e. 10.8 billion forints at the current exchange rate, but it is important to emphasize: in such contracts, the specific purchase price always depends on the negotiated conditions.
In addition to the purchase price, the maintenance cost of the machines is also an important aspect: in order to keep airplanes airworthy, continuous maintenance, modernization, and expertise are required. American papers a few years ago, the Gripen was named as the modern fighter-bomber regularized in NATO, operating with the cheapest maintenance costs, while the towering F-35 is the most expensive.
