A second Eastern European defence ministry has been rocked by corruption allegations related to the acquisition of aircraft. Hungarian defence secretary of state Janos Homoki has been accused of receiving a bribe in connection with an EADS/RSK deal to upgradeMiG-29s.
Earlier this year a Polish defence official was arrested and the minister sacked after allegations related to Poland's fighter competition (Flight International, 31 July-6 August).
Denying the accusations, Homoki told local media that the allegations regarding the bribe had been made by the opposition parties.
Hungary signed a deal in July last year to upgrade 14 MiG-29s. The first fighter was to be modified by EADS at its Manching, Germany, factory with other work to be performed in Hungary by Danubian Aircraft.
After the deal was criticised by US ambassador to Budapest Peter Tufo, Hungary asked for details on the acquisition of second-hand Boeing F/A-18 Hornets or Lockheed Martin F-16s. Saab-BAE Systems is also offering the Gripen. Belgium and Turkey are both believed to have since offered used F-16s.
Hungary's 24 MiG-29s were acquired in the 1990s as repayment for Soviet debts. However, only limited spare parts were included in the package. A number of the fighters have been cannibalised to keep the other aircraft flyable, although less than half the fleet is now thought airworthy. The MiG-29s are also nearing the need for major overhauls.
Source: Flight International
