Hungary’s JAS-39C Gripens in Action
MilTech recently had the opportunity to visit the Hungarian Air Force (HAF) contingent at Siauliai Air Base (Lithuania) as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, courtesy of Saab. BAP is a regional form of NATO’s peacetime Air Policing mission and, in like style elsewhere in Europe, is conducted to protect the integrity of allies’ airspace. The Lithuanian Air Force provides all that is needed to conduct the mission, including logistical, medical, firefighting, airfield maintenance, NAV, FP and other support. Siauliai is also Lithuania’s main operating base for its air component, which consists of C-27J Spartan and L-410 transport aircraft, AS-365 Dauphin and Mi-8 Hip helicopters, and Scan Eagle UAVs. The air base has been sized for continued operation with a full fighter squadron, and can handle strategic airlift operations, including the C-5 Galaxy.
In 2022, four Hungarian JAS-39C Gripens have been tasked to the mission for four months. Three aircraft were training during the Saab-organised visit, conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training operations, which also included a 2-on-1 air-to-air combat simulation. In a second exercise, two Gripens simulated a close air support mission in collaboration with the Lithuanian armed forces. The aircraft mounted Litening III targeting pods on the dedicated under-fuselage pylon.
The BAP mission has been conducted by NATO countries on a rotational base since 2004, when the Baltic States joined the Alliance. This year, Hungary is executing the 60th rotation – for the third time as lead nation, following earlier taskings in 2015 and 2019. NATO Air Policing scrambles respond to military and civilian aircraft that do not follow international flight regulations and approach Alliance members’ airspace.
Three other nations are currently taking part in BAP: Poland with four F-16Cs also at Siauliai; Germany with four Eurofighter Typhoons at Amari Air Base in Estonia; and Italy with four Typhoons operating from Malbork Air Base in Poland. In recent months, a rotational scheme between the four nations has been adopted. While three detachments are in ‘hot week’ state, meaning they must be operational at Readiness State 15 (RS15, take-off within 15 minutes) with two aircraft, one detachment is in a ‘cold week’ state, free to conduct training activities instead. During the visit, the Hungarian Air Force was in ‘cold week,’ yet MilTech determined that they usually are ready to take off in under ten minutes from a ‘scramble’ order.
According to various dedicated briefings, MilTech understands the current number of scrambles is no higher than in past deployments to date. In general, the situation over Baltic air space seems to have stabilised, and does not appear to have been directly impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Between 1 August and 15 November, the HAF has carried out more than 225 Quick-Reaction Alert (QRA) take-offs, resulting in over 275 operational flight hours. The four Gripens conducted a total of 16 alpha scrambles (real scrambles), intercepting diverse Russian aircraft, such as Il-76, Il-20, Il-78, An-72, An-26, Su-24, Su-27 and Mig-31. During air policing missions, Gripens are usually armed with two AIM-9 short-range IR missiles, two AIM-120 AMRAAM BVR air-to-air missiles and a fully loaded 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
Tommaso Massa, Assistant Editor and Correspondent, Rivista Italiana Difesa (RID) in Lithuania
