Vehicle Plays Key Role in Expansion of Hungarian Defence Industrial Base
On 17 August the Hungarian government embarked upon a €2+ billion programme to modernise the nation’s defence industry and military capabilities. Rheinmetall will be cooperating with Budapest in the creation of a joint venture and production facility to manufacture the LYNX infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Hungary.
Hungary is the first NATO and EU member state to select LYNX. The step is of central importance in the nation’s ongoing programme of military and industrial development, which aims to transform the Hungarian Army as quickly as possible into a fighting force capable of actively addressing current and future security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic region.
A joint statement issued László Palkovics, Minister of Innovation and Technology, and Gáspár Maróth, Commissioner for Defence Development, states in part “As part of its commitment to NATO, Hungary is replacing its heavy ground forces equipment. Following the tanks and artillery, it is now the turn of the infantry combat vehicles, which form the backbone of the capabilities set. As the most advanced system of its kind, the LYNX has demonstrated its suitability for a central role in the Army’s capabilities spectrum for decades to come. In keeping with earlier promises by the Hungarian government to enhance the nation’s armed forces, this cooperative endeavour extends far beyond the modernization of military technology. Partnering with a major European corporation will result in the modernization of our defence industry and thus to the expansion of our industrial portfolio.”
Armin Papperger, Chairman of Rheinmetall AG, explained “The LYNX’s market breakthrough is a major success for us. And the fact that we were able to convince Hungary – an important EU and NATO partner – to choose this innovative vehicle makes this success all the greater. In making this forward-looking procurement decision, Hungary’s top political and military officials have demonstrated real leadership. Not only does the move place Hungary at the forefront of European army technology. It reaffirms the Hungarian government’s commitment to being a reliable, more militarily effective partner of its NATO allies, a policy which it is pursuing with systematic energy.”