Swedish defence and aerospace company SAAB is set to open an aviation development centre in Hungary, offering a significant opportunity for Hungarian engineers to contribute to the high-tech field of fighter jet manufacturing. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó during his visit to Linköping, Sweden.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the cooperation between Hungary and SAAB goes back more than two decades, centred around the operation of Gripen fighter jets that safeguard Hungarian airspace.
Currently, Hungary operates a fleet of 14 Gripens, but the fleet will expand to 18 next year with the addition of four new aircraft. ‘Beyond protecting Hungary’s own security, this expansion allows us to further support the defence of European airspace during these turbulent geopolitical times,’ Szijjártó stated. With the new aircraft, Hungary will continue contributing to the air policing efforts of six other European countries.
Hungarian Gripens are already deployed in neighbouring Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia, and they also take part in protecting the Baltic airspace. From August Hungarian pilots will again be stationed in the Baltics for a four-month mission. Szijjártó emphasized the strategic importance of these operations, particularly amid heightened tensions on NATO’s and the EU’s eastern flanks.
Beyond military deployment, Hungary’s partnership with SAAB is now extending into industrial collaboration. The newly announced aviation development centre in Budapest will serve as a major engineering hub, supporting vital R&D tasks for the aircraft manufacturer.
‘In today’s security climate, the demand for combat aircraft is growing. This necessitates new development capacities, and one of these will now be based in Hungary,’ said the minister. He added that the centre will allow Hungarian engineers to play a direct role in one of Europe’s most advanced defence technology sectors.
‘This puts Hungary on the map of countries involved in the development of fighter aircraft in Europe,’ he said, adding that it will boost the country’s technological capabilities and help the Hungarian economy transition into a new dimension.
The cooperation between Hungary and SAAB is entering a new phase, contributing not only to national security but also to industrial growth and innovation, Szijjártó concluded.
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