Hungarian Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army. The Air Force, Land Forces, and Border Guard make up the Hungarian Army.

Contents 1 History 1.1 1918 - Pre-World War II 1.2 World War II 1.3 Post-World War II - Present 2 Present day 2.1 Air Bases 2.1.1 Active 2.1.2 Reserve 2.2 Air Wings 2.2.1 59. "Szentgyörgyi Dezsõ" Harcászati Repülőbázis 2.2.1.1 Harcászati Repülőszázad 2.2.1.2 Szállitó Repülőszázad 2.2.1.3 Kiképző Repülőszázad 2.2.2 86. "Szolnok" Helikopterezred 2.2.2.1 Szállitóhelikopter Zászlóalj 2.2.2.2 Harcihelikopter Zászlóalj 2.2.3 12. Légvédelmi Rakétadandár 2.2.4 1. Logisztikai És Támogató Zászlóalj 2.2.5 Pápa AFB 3 Aircraft inventory 4 Aircraft markings 5 Museums 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] 1918 - Pre-World War II

Following Hungarian independence in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools. This air arm became the Hungarian Red Air Force under the short lived Hungarian Soviet Republic, but was disbanded upon its downfall. [1]

[edit] World War II

Under the Versailles Treaty, Hungary was forbidden from owning military aircraft. However, a secret air arm was gradually established under the cover of civilian flying clubs. During 1938, the existence of the air force was made known. The air arm was reorganized and expanded. On January 1, 1939, it became independent of the army. It subsequently participated in clashes with the newly established Slovak Republic and in the border confrontation with Romania. In April 1941, operations were conducted in support of the German invasion of Yugoslavia and, on June 27, 1941, Hungary declared war on the Soviet Union. On March 1, 1942, the air force was returned to army control. In the summer of 1942 an air brigade was attached to the Luftwaffe's VIII Fliegerkorps on the Eastern Front. Beginning March 1944, Allied bomber raids began on Hungary and progressively increased in intensity. Late in 1944 all efforts were redirected towards countering the advancing Soviet Army, but to no avail. All fighting in Hungary ended on April 16, 1945. [2]

[edit] Post-World War II - Present

A small air arm was organised along Soviet lines during 1947. Following the communist takeover, Russian military aid was stepped-up and a major expansion program initiated. When Soviet forces invaded in November of 1956 to suppress the national uprising, sections of the Hungarian Air Force attacked Soviet forces and resisted Russian attempts to occupy their bases. The resistance was short-lived and the air force was demobilized soon after. A reconstituted air arm was reformed in the following year, but initially only as an internal security force. Gradually, the air force was expanded again, but it remained an integral part of the army and was essentially a defensive force. During the 1990s all combat aircraft were fitted with new Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems to enable operations in western airspace. In April 2002, Hungary joined the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) pilot training program. [3]

[edit] Present day

The current Hungarian Air Force is primarily just for defensive purposes. The flying units of the air force are organised into a single command, Air Command.

[edit] Air Bases

There are 2 active Air Force bases (AFB) and 4 Reserve AFB in Hungary.

[edit] Active

• Kecskemét AFB
• Szolnok AFB

[edit] Reserve

• Pápa AFB
• Taszár AFB
• Tököl AFB
• Szentkirályszabadja AFB

[edit] Air Wings

Currently, there are only 4 operational, and 1 recently disbanded, air wings in the Air Force.

• 59. "Szentgyörgyi Dezső" Harcászati Repülőbázis (59th Tactical Plane Base) based at Kecskemét AFB
  • 'Puma' Harcászati Repülőszázad ('Puma' Tactical Squadron)
  • 'Dongó' Harcászati Repülőszázad ('Bumblebee' Tactical Squadron)
  • Szállító Repülőszázad (Transport Plane Squadron)
  • Kiképző Repülőszázad (Training Plane Squadron) (only squadron based at Szolnok AFB)
• 86. "Szolnok" Helikopterezred (86th Helicopter Regiment) based at Szolnok AFB.
  • Szállitóhelikopter Zászlóalj (Transport Helicopter Battalion)
  • Harcihelikopter Zászlóalj (Attack Helicopter Battalion) (DISBANDED)
• 12. Légvédelmi Rakétadandár (12th Air Defense Missile Brigade)
• 1. Logisztikai és Támogató Zászlóalj (1st Logistic and Support Regiment)
• Pápa AFB

[edit] 59. "Szentgyörgyi Dezsõ" Harcászati Repülőbázis

The 59th Tactical Fighter Wing is the fixed-winged part of the Air Force. The 59th consists of 2 Fighter plane Squadrons, 1 Transport Squadron, and a Training Squadron.

[edit] Harcászati Repülőszázad

There are two Fighter Squadrons in the 59th Wing, the "Puma" and "Dongó" Squadrons. Both operate the same type of aircraft.

• MiG-29B
• MiG-29UB
• L-39ZO
• JAS-39C/D Gripens

The Hungarian Air Force is leasing 14 JAS-39C/D Gripens for 12 years beginning in 2006.

[edit] Szállitó Repülőszázad

This is the transport squadron of the 59th Wing. They operate:

• An-26

The An-26s are due to be replaced by new transport planes by 2010.

[edit] Kiképző Repülőszázad

This is the training squadron of the 59th Wing. It is the only one of the four Squadrons to be based at Szolnok AFB. They operate:

• Yak-52

[edit] 86. "Szolnok" Helikopterezred

The 86th Wing is the helicopter regiment of the Hungarian Air Force. The 86th consists of one Transport and one Attack battalion.

[edit] Szállitóhelikopter Zászlóalj

This is the transport helicopter battalion of the 86th Wing. They operate:

• Mi-8T/P/PS
• Mi-17

[edit] Harcihelikopter Zászlóalj

This is the attack helicopter battalion of the 86th Wing. This unit has recently been disbanded and a new regiment, in combination with the transport helicopters, will be formed. They operated:

• Mi-24D/V/P

[edit] 12. Légvédelmi Rakétadandár

The 12th Air Defense Missile Brigade is in charge of providing air defense to Hungary.

• NIIP/Vympel 2K12 "Kub". Mobile Surface-to-air missile battlefild (SAM) system.
• 9K38 "Igla". Handheld SAM, much like the Stinger.
• Mistral missiles, a french-made lightweight SAM system with dual launchers mounted on Unimog vehicles.
• ZU-23-2. Short-range towed AA gun.
• 36D6 Tin Shield. An all-altitude surveillance radar.

[edit] 1. Logisztikai És Támogató Zászlóalj

The 1st Logistic and Support Regiment was established on October 1, 2000 by the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF). Its goal is to provide the operating conditions of the Air Force Command, as well as organizing and executing the related activities. Conducting garrison duties, executing a partially independent financial management, and supplying the designated military organization. Procuring, storing, handling and maintaining the material stocks of the HDF Air Force Command and the Regiment, and preparing the subordinate units by establishing the basis for higher readiness level. [4]

[edit] Pápa AFB

Pápa Air Force Base was established as a military organization on July 1, 2001 as a part of national commitments in the NATO Infrastructural Development Program, and it is the legal successor of the HDF 47th Pápa Tactical Fighter Regiment.

[edit] Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Aero L-39	Czechoslovakia	trainer		14
Antonov An-26	Soviet Union	tactical transport		4
Mikoyan MiG-29	Soviet Union	fighter trainer	MiG-29 MiG-29UB	11 2
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-8 Mi-17	16 7
Mil Mi-24	Soviet Union	attack helicopter	Mi-24D Mi-24P	10 11
JAS 39 Gripen	Sweden	fighter trainer	JAS 39C JAS 39D	12 2
Yakovlev Yak-52	Romania	trainer		11	built by Aerostar

[edit] Aircraft markings

The Hungarian aircraft marking is a triangle that points toward the front of the aircraft. It is the same colors as the Hungarian flag, red, white, and green. The innermost triangle is green, follow by white, and then red. It is displayed on the side of helicopters and in the standard four wing positions on aircraft. The new Gripen fighters will wear a NATO standard compliant grey-on-grey (low-visibility) version of the Hungarian triangle insignia.

[edit] Museums

The 86. "Szolnok" Helikopterezred maintains the Museum of Hungarian Aviation, which has the largest collection of "retired" Airforce crafts. Some aircrafts are also displayed at the Kecel Military History Park.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• History of the Insignia of the Hungarian Air Force
• http://www.huaf.hu/
• http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/hung/hungaf2.htm
• http://www.honvedelem.hu/army/legiero