Saab today signed a contract with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) for an order of four additional Gripen C fighters for Hungary.
This order follows an amendment to the contract between the FMV and the Hungarian government signed in December 2001 for 14 Gripen C/D fighters for the Hungarian Air Force. The contract amendment allowing the addition of the four new aircraft was signed by the Hungarian Ministry of Defense and FMV on February 23, 2024. With this new contract amendment, Hungary will operate a total of 18 Gripen C/D aircrafts to protect and defend Hungarian and NATO airspace.
According to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the extension of the Gripen fighter contract will significantly increase Hungary’s military capabilities and strengthen its ability to play a role abroad. In the changing security environment and the war between Russia and Ukraine, it is of particular importance that the Hungarian Air Force can contribute to allied tasks outside the country with its own assets, he noted. Hungarian Gripen will also protect the airspace of Slovenia, together with Italy, and Slovakia, in cooperation with V4 member states.
Today’s agreement is the first of several more to follow. Agreements on extended logistics support, continuous upgrades and training until 2035 are to be signed separately with Saab and other parties involved.
Orbán reported that he had also agreed with his Swedish counterpart on the opening of a center of excellence focused on artificial intelligence by Saab and the Defense Innovation Research Institute. In addition, Saab and the Hungarian Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the development of high-tech industrial areas and combat aircraft capabilities.
