Gripen International,
In the presence of the Hungarian Defence Minister Imre Szekeres, the 14 Hungarian Gripen fighters have been declared operational, ready to take on NATO Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty from the Kecskemét airforce base.
The Hungarian Air Force has declared Gripen operational for QRA tasks (Quick Reaction Alert) over Hungarian territory and air-space. Gripen will now alternate with the remaining MiG-29 fighters on duty providing armed standby protection, to completely replace the Russian built fighters by the end of 2009.
“The QRA responsibilities for Gripen in the Hungarian Air Force proves once again that Gripen is a fully NATO interoperable fighter. It is with great pleasure that we see Gripen becoming further established within NATO. We congratulate the Hungarian Air Force and the Hungarian Gripen fighters on this historical event”, says Henrik Höjer, Programmes Director at Gripen International.
The Hungarian Air Force announced the assignment of QRA responsibilities to Gripen with a ceremony at the Kecskemét airforce base on 22 December 2008. Representatives from the Hungarian Government and the Hungarian Air Force were present during the ceremony. Later that day two Gripen fighters took off from the Kecskemét airforce base on their first scramble to provide armed standby protection for the first time.
Hungary is the third European nation, after Sweden and the Czech Republic, and the second NATO nation to operate Gripen. The last of the 14 Gripen fighters, bought in an government to government deal between Sweden and Hungary, were formally handed over to Hungary on 28 January 2008. The Hungarian Air Force has already used their Gripen fighters both in Hungary and during international exercises.
