Rene VanWoezik/BUDAPEST
Poor economic conditions have forced Hungary's politicians to repeatedly delay the tough long term decisions necessary to revive the country's air force.
The flying units form one of two commands in the Hungarian defence forces, or Magyar Honvedseg Repülö Csapatai (MHRC). The other is the Ground Troop Command, with headquarters at Szekesfehervar, which controls the helicopter and transport regiments at Szentkiralyszabadja, Szolnok and Tököl.
The MHRC Air Defence Command has its headquarters at Veszprem and controls fighter regiments at Pápa and Kecskemét, as well as two surface-to-air missile regiments.
With a lack of momentum to fuel the MHRC's regeneration, its air force has experienced a 40% decrease in operational combat aircraft and personnel since 1996. Only 40-60% of its aircraft are serviceable, with the rest in storage. Almost all of its Russian-built aircraft and helicopters will reach their final airframe hours within a few years.
Further dampening the climate is prime minister Victor Orbán's revelation that the current government will not decide on a new aircraft purchase, leaving the choice to the new government that takes office in 2003. That will be too late for the declining transport and helicopter fleet.
The MHRC has participated in Partnership for Peace exercises and other events geared to ensuring compatibility with NATO demands, but the new era of NATO membership will bring huge changes to the MHRC.
During late 1996 and early 1997, the MHRC's fighter force lost much of its life blood with the withdrawal of more than 45 aircraft of three fighter types: the Mikoyan MiG-21MF and MiG-23MF/UB and the Sukhoi Su-22M3/ UM3. Although a dozen MiG-21MFs had enough flying hours left, the MF model itself has become obsolete and is used as a spare-part source for the MiG-21bis fleet at Hungary's Pápa air base.
The MiG-23 Flogger was still a good interceptor, but became obsolete on the arrival of the MiG-29. The Floggers became too expensive to operate as costly overhauls were needed in Russia or Bulgaria. Coupled with a spare-parts shortage, the operational costs became too high, resulting in the de-activation of the MiG-23 by the end of 1996.
The former MiG-23 pilots were "downgraded" to fly the MiG-21bis at Pápa, where 11 MiG-23MF/UBs are stored and for sale. So far, only India has shown interest.
The withdrawal of the Su-22 Fitters ultimately became a cause célèbre. The MHRC's sole dedicated strike unit - a squadron equipped with a dozen Su-22M3s and three Su-22UM3 trainers - had a secondary reconnaissance role when the aircraft were fitted with the KKR-1TE/2MK photographic/electronic intelligence pod. With the MHRC's new focus on air defence, a strike unit was no longer needed.
The initial plan was to scrap the Fitters, but it was decided in 1995 that six would receive a mid-life overhaul at Danubian Aircraft at Tököl. A Belarus company would upgrade the avionics. The $3.5 million overhaul would prolong the Su-22's operation by 1,000 flight hours.
However, less than six months after the last overhauled Su-22M3 was delivered, all of the aircraft were taken out of service, causing heated debate in the Hungarian parliament. Of 16 Su-22 pilots, only three were allowed to remain in the MHRC, to fly the MiG-29 or MiG-21.
The Su-22s, stored at Pápa, are for sale. Unfortunately, because of the M3's Tumansky R-29BS-300 engine, a sale is not likely. The powerplant is not interchangeable with the Lyulka AL-21F3 used in the Su-22M4 variant flown by most Fitter operators.
Old fighters
Twenty-one MiG-29 Fulcrum As are the MHRC's primary fighters, although only about half are in serviceable condition. The Fulcrums were delivered by Russia in 1991 to settle the departing Soviet forces' $800 million debts.
After pilot training in Russia at Krasnodar and Kusovkaya, the first MiG-29s arrived at 1993. All Fulcrums are operated by 59 Fighter Regiment, comprising two squadrons based at Kecskemet. Located in central Hungary, this key air base is ideally placed to cover the entire country. At Kecskemét, four MiG-29s are kept on alert, armed with two R-27s (AA-10 Alamo) and four R-73s (AA-11 Archer). The Fulcrums have been on constant high alert because of the war in Bosnia and, now, Serbia.
Early this year, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace proposed updating the Fulcrum fleet to Western standard. The Hungarians demanded that more than half of the work be performed by Danubian Aircraft at Tököl, to save costs.
North west Hungary is patrolled by the MiG-21bis. Col Istvan Peto, who commands 47 Fighter Regiment, says: "We have 41 pilots, of whom 20 are chosen to fly 60h a year. Ten pilots clock 20h a year, while most of the remainder have to settle for just 10h a year. Four will have to settle for only 3h a year. Sometimes it looks like we pilots are doing a cooking course!"
In Peto's view, each pilot should fly 80-100h annually. He remarks: "The MiG-21 has a mission time of 30min, but we have our exercise area just 3min away, so no time is lost. This is in contrast to most NATO missions, which have more transit time. So Hungarian flight hours are more intensive and cannot be compared one-on-one with NATO hours." To boost their flight times, MiG-21 pilots fly 20 extra hours on Yak-52 and L-39 trainers.
The 47 Fighter Regiment is composed of two MiG-21 squadrons: one equipped with 10 MiG-21UM trainers, the oldest jets in the MHRC, and the second operating a dozen MiG-21bis fighters. The MiG-21s are taken from a pool of 60 machines on a rotating basis, ensuring several years of operations. For quick reaction alert, four MiG-21bis are armed with R-13M (AA-2D Atoll), R-3R/ R-13R (AA-2C) and R-60M (AA-8Aphid) missiles.
In 1994, Hungary was the first of the former Warsaw Pact air forces to fit Western identification friend or foe (IFF) equipment in its fighters. The US IFF system made it easier for the MHRC aircraft to fly in NATO airspace. This led to frequent visits to air shows and squadron exchanges in the West.
New fighters
The MHRC intends to operate its MiG-29s until 2015, but it also needs 50 new multirole fighters. However, a decision on the future fighter is expected no sooner then 2003.
The Hungarians are interested in leasing aircraft, and such an arrangement is possible for US aircraft, considering the numbers ofF-16s already in storage in the USA and F/A-18s likely to be stored by 2003.
At Veszprém-Szentkirályszabadja, near Lake Balaton, 87 Combat Helicopter Regiment comprises two combat squadrons, one cargo squadron and one special squadron. The Regiment's Col Ferenc Fapál says: "We make a distinction between NATO-compatible pilots making 60 flight hours a year and those who fly 40h. Our whole helicopter fleet will have reached its final flight hour by 2005. Then we need new equipment, preferably smaller and economical Western helicopters."
The attack element is formed by two squadrons equipped with the Mil Mi-24D/V Hind. Of 32 Hinds, only 10-12 are operational. Seven Mi-24Ds have recently been withdrawn from service. Germany donated 20 former East German air force Mi-24V/Ps in 1995-6, but these have been put in storage. The MHRC intended to form a third attack squadron with the six 30mm cannon-equipped Mi-24Ps, but there is no budget for the overhaul.
One Transport Helicopter Squadron operates three Mi-8TBs for utility tasks, including four Mi-8TBs kept on standby to evacuate the Hungarian Pontoniers by the NATO Stabilisation Force detachment at Okucani in Croatia, when needed. The Mixed Transport Helicopter Squadron is equipped with the Mi-8TB and Mi-17 for transport, plus two rare specialised electronic countermeasures communications jammers, Mi-17PP Hip-K-derivatives, fitted with a large 32-element array on both sides of the fuselage. One Mi-9 Hip-G is operated in the airborne communications role.
Unique to Hungary among NATO's newest members is a US-occupied base. Since December 1995, Taszar AB has been a support and staging area for the US military in the Balkans.
Previously home to the MHRC's 31 Fighter Regiment, Taszar now has reserve airfield status. Its tenant unit before the US forces, Hungary's 31 Fighter Regiment, was de-activated in December 1996, six months after its aircraft left the base to make more room for the visitors.
While Hungary may have lost a base for its own forces, its air traffic controllers have gained new experience working 5alongside their NATO partners. A joint US-Hungarian air traffic control team handles the up to 60 flights a day with US landing and navigation systems. Among the US aircraft operating out of Taszar are air force transport aircraft and army helicopters and RC-12 Guardrail electronic-intelligence aircraft. The Predator unmanned air vehicle has also been launched from Taszar.
Source: Flight International
