Page 96 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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Hungarian Gripens on BAP
Hu n g a ri a n G rip en s o n B A P
T he latest Hungarian participation in jets also cover Slovenian airspace. More involved in the BAP mission. They worked on
All the HUNAF’s QRA-certified pilots were
the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission
than 90 personnel deployed to Šiauliai,
began in April, when Magyar Légierő most of them from Kecskemét. a rotational basis, deploying in regular ‘shifts’
(Hungarian Air Force, HUNAF) Gripens Preparation for the BAP mission began last between Lithuania and Kecskemét to maintain
departed the MH 59. Szentgyörgyi Dezső year. A training course was carried out according their NATO qualifications. Maintenance
Repülőbázis (59th Szentgyörgyi Dezső Air to NATO directives and Hungarian pilots during the Baltic deployment was provided
Base) at Kecskemét in Hungary for Šiauliai air flew tactical simulator sorties at the Swedish by a team of Hungarian Air Force technicians
base in Lithuania, where they remained for four Air Force’s simulator centre (Flygvapnets and the HUNAF’s fleet of An-26 transports
months. Besides the Gripens, the 50th BAP Luftstridssimuleringscentrum, or FLSC) in and new Airbus A319s provided weekly
rotation included Spanish Air Force Hornets Stockholm. Soon after the simulator work, the logistics flights between the two air bases.
at Šiauliai and Royal Air Force Typhoons at unit flew to the Swedish weapon range at Vidsel. When it first touched down in Lithuania
Ämari air base in Estonia as augmenting forces Here, HUNAF Gripens attended their fourth on April 27, the Hungarian detachment
(see BAP’s hot summer, November, p30-34). live weapons delivery exercise – Air Superiority was transported by Hungarian A319s
Since the Baltic states joined NATO in 2004, 2018 – in June last year. This was a milestone with support from a Lithuanian C-27J.
other member nations have provided fighter for the Hungarian Gripens, which dropped live Two days later the Gripens arrived in
assets for air policing – normally for four-month air-to-ground munitions for the first a pair of two-ship formations. Alert
periods – as part of the alliance’s collective time – as well as employing AIM- duty began on May 1, in parallel
defence arrangements. Recently, increased 9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles with the British Typhoons and
Russian military activity means the airspace and the onboard gun. Air-to- Spanish Hornets. However, the
over the Baltics has become more complicated. ground weapons options for handover ceremony took place
The four HUNAF Gripens in the Baltics the Gripens include AGM-65H a day later, as the Hungarian
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maintained quick reaction alert (QRA) in and G2 Maverick missiles, detachment officially assumed
addition to their local air defence mission Mk82 iron bombs and GBU- BAP duty from the departing
back home in Hungary, from where the ft y Polish Air Force F-16 unit. ft y
12 precision-guided bombs.
over the Baltics

Fully armed JAS 39C serial 38 taxies at Šiauliai after
a rain shower. The HUNAF Gripens manning the
Baltic QRA were each armed with two AIM-120C-5
AMRAAMs and two AIM-9M Sidewinders.
All photos Lt Col István Toperczer unless stated

94 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

94-97 Gripen AFM Dec2019.indd 94 08/11/2019 16:46:09