Background
US bilateral military cooperation with Hungary is comprised of three major areas: joint training, deployment, and operations. Strategically located in Central Europe, the U.S. has been working with Hungary to modernize its air defense systems since it joined NATO in 1999, including a billion-dollar agreement in August 2020 to supply it with 60 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). In November 2020, it became the 6th NATO country to purchase the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMs), the most advanced medium-range air defense system in the world, allowing it to surface launch the AMRAAM. While Hungary’s National Security Strategy does not list any country as an official adversary, it has sought to maintain a strong military by modernizing its defense sector and deploying advanced defense capabilities. It has also strongly supported international efforts against transnational terrorism.
Hungary’s Air Defense Capabilities
System | Role | Number Deployed | Platform |
National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System-3 (NASAMS-3) | Distributed and networked medium to long range air-defence system | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile | |
2K12 Kub 2M | Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system | 16 | Ground-Based; Road-Mobile |
Mistral | Infrared homing SAM | 45 | Man-portable |
EL/M-2084 | Multi-mission radar (MMR) | 6 | Fixed Position Radar |
P–18 Spoon Rest | 2D Very High Frequency (VHF) Radar | Fixed Position Radar |
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