The Hungarian Defence Forces’ Baltic Air Defence Readiness Unit carried out its first live Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission since taking over Baltic Air Policing duties, according to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence portal Honvédelem.hu. The operation was launched after unidentified aircraft, ignoring air traffic control communications, entered international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Operating within NATO’s multinational air policing framework — which currently includes Spanish and Italian contingents — the Hungarian detachment reacted swiftly, highlighting increased alertness in the region. This deployment coincides with NATO’s enhanced aerial posture in the Baltic, supported by new members such as Finland, in response to continued Russian reconnaissance and probing flights.
Four Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS-39C Gripen fighters located and visually identified a Russian aircraft flying at 11,000 metres (36,000 feet) at 23:26 local time. Following standard international interception procedures, the Gripens escorted the aircraft before returning to their base in Šiauliai, Lithuania. This mission marked the first high-alert scramble for Hungary since assuming the lead nation role in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing rotation on 1 August 2025, and represents Hungary’s fourth participation in the mission after previous stints in 2015, 2019, and 2022.
The Saab JAS-39C Gripen, developed by Swedish aerospace firm Saab AB, is a versatile lightweight fighter designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. Featuring advanced avionics, the PS-05/A pulse-Doppler radar, and compatibility with NATO-standard weapons like the AIM-120 AMRAAM and IRIS-T, the Gripen offers high performance with relatively low operating costs. The “C” variant includes Link 16 datalink integration and in-flight refuelling capability, enhancing its suitability for NATO operations. In service since the late 1990s, the Gripen is operated by several countries including Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and South Africa.
The Hungarian deployment comes amid a surge in Russian air operations in the Baltic region, often involving aircraft without filed flight plans or active transponders — manoeuvres widely seen as attempts to test NATO’s response times. By deploying Gripens for rapid intercepts, Hungary not only meets alliance obligations but also sends a deterrent message, reinforcing NATO’s commitment to defending Baltic airspace. Given the proximity to Russian territory, such scrambles serve as practical tests of NATO’s integrated air defence, from command and control to multinational cooperation.
Hungary’s fleet was expanded in February 2024 with four additional JAS-39C aircraft, each costing around $30–40 million, raising the operational total to 18. The purchase was finalised alongside diplomatic discussions that led to Hungary’s parliamentary approval of Sweden’s NATO membership. Maintained under a long-term lease-to-own agreement signed in 2001 and extended into the mid-2030s, the Gripens remain the backbone of Hungary’s air defence.
Following the mission, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky commended the pilots and underscored Hungary’s contribution to European security. As tensions with Russia persist, such operations stand as both a practical defence measure and a signal of alliance unity, ensuring constant monitoring and protection of the Baltic skies.
