Hungarian Ground Forces

The Hungarian Ground Forces are one of the branches of the Hungarian Defence Forces. It is the army which handles Ground activities and troops including artillery, tanks, APC's, IFV's and ground support. Hungary's Ground forces served in Iraq, and are currently in service in Afghanistan and KFOR.

Hungarian Ground Forces
Magyar Szárazföldi Haderő
Country Hungary
AllegianceHungarian Defence Forces
BranchGround Forces
Part ofHungarian Defence Forces
Garrison/HQSzékesfehérvár
Colors    Red, White and Green
Anniversaries29 September
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Dr Gábor Böröndi

Previous Hungarian ground forces have included the Royal Hungarian Landwehr, the Royal Hungarian Army and the ground force components of the Hungarian People's Army. Hungary was supported by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and a member of the Warsaw Pact. Since the Soviet Union's fall in 1991, Hungary reduced numbers of tanks and troops, and closed garrisons. The Hungarian Army now deals with national security, peacekeeping and international conflicts. Hungary joined NATO in 1999.

History

In 1963, the Ground Forces included the 5th Army of Hungary, formed in 1961, at Székesfehérvár. This formation included the 7th Motor Rifle Division at Kiskunfélegyháza, the 8th Motor Rifle Division at Zalaegerszeg, the 9th Motor Rifle Division at Kaposvár, and the 11th Tank Division at Tata. This Formation also included the 34th Special Reconnaissance Battalion at Székesfehérvár, which was also a sub unit of the 5th Army. The other big combat formation of the Ground Forces were the 3rd Army Corps at Cegléd (with the 4th Motor Rifle Division at Gyöngyös and the 15th Motor Rifle Division at Nyíregyháza).[1]

Michael Holm writes that the 3rd Army Corps at Cegléd, Military Unit Number 6639, (see hu:3. Hadtest, with the 66th Communications Battalion and 3rd Security Battalion both at Cegled, 4th Motor Rifle Division at Gyöngyös and the 15th Motor Rifle Division at Nyíregyháza) was established on 1 November 1966, and was identically organised in 1970 and 1980, but by 1988 was reorganised to consist of four mechanised infantry, one tank brigades, and one artillery brigade and three artillery regiments (AA Missile; Anti-Aircraft Artillery; and Anti-Tank Artillery), plus other smaller units.[2]

With the fall of the Warsaw Pact both 5th Army and the 3rd Mechanised Corps were disbanded in 1991.

Structure
Main article: Structure of the Hungarian Defence Forces

As of 2020, the main combat formations of the HDF Land Command are:

  • 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal and River Flotilla Regiment "Honvéd", at Újpest military port in Budapest[3]
    • 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
    • Special Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
    • River Flotilla
    • Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9 Company
    • Logistics Company
    • Logistics Battalion
    • Training Company
  • 2nd Special Forces Brigade "vitéz Árpád Bertalan", in Szolnok Air Base [4]
  • 5th Infantry Brigade "István Bocskai", in Debrecen[5]
    • Command Company, in Debrecen
    • 3rd Infantry Battalion "Miklós Bercsényi", in Hódmezővásárhely, with BTR-80 APCs
    • 39th Infantry Battalion in Debrecen, with BTR-80 APCs
    • 62nd Infantry Battalion in Hódmezővásárhely, with BTR-80 APCs
    • Operations Support Engineer Battalion, in Debrecen
    • Logistics Battalion, in Debrecen
    • Combat Engineer Company, in Debrecen
    • Signal Company, in Debrecen
  • 24th Reconnaissance Regiment "Gergely Bornemissza" in Debrecen[6]
    • Command and Signal Company, in Debrecen
    • Reconnaissance Company in Debrecen
    • Long-Range Reconnaissance Company in Debrecen
    • Tactical Intelligence (HUMINT) Company in Debrecen
    • Electronic Warfare Company in Debrecen
    • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Company in Debrecen
    • Logistics Company
  • 25th Infantry Brigade "György Klapka", in Tata[7]
    • Command Company, in Tata
    • 1st Infantry Battalion, in Tata, with BTR-80 APCs
    • 2nd Infantry Battalion, in Tata, with BTR-80 APCs
    • 11th Tank Battalion, in Tata, with 44x Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks[8]
    • 36th Anti-tank Missile Battalion, in Tata, with 9K115-2 Metis-M anti-tank missiles
    • 57th Garrison Support Battalion, in Tata
    • 101st Artillery Battalion, in Tata, with 24x Panzerhaubitze 2000 155 mm self-propelled howitzers[8]
    • Logistics Battalion, in Tata
  • 37th Engineer Regiment "Ferenc Rákóczi II", in Szentes[9]
    • Command Support Platoon, in Szentes
    • Bridge Building Battalion, in Szentes
    • Low Water Bridge Building Company, in Szentes
    • Water Purification Company, in Szentes
    • Construction Engineer Company, in Szentes
    • Training Company, in Szentes
  • 43rd Signal and Command Support Regiment "József Nagysándor", in Székesfehérvár[10]
    • Command and Guard Company
    • Combat Command Main C4I Centre
    • Transdanubian Signal and C4I Centre
    • Lowland Signal and C4I Centre, at Szolnok Air Base
    • Signal Battalion
    • Logistics Battalion
  • 93rd CBRN defense Battalion "Sándor Petőfi", in Székesfehérvár[11]
    • Command Company
    • CBRN-decontaminating Company
    • CBRN-reconnaissance Company
    • CBRN-support Company
    • Support Company

Military equipment

Infantry equipment
Hungarian special forces soldiers (KMZ) disembark from a Chinook in Croatia
  • RS4/4 parachute
  • RS4/4 LA parachute
  • MANTA parachute
  • 93M frag grenade
  • 96M frag grenade
  • Black Ka'bar bayonet
  • AN/PVS-14 Gen3 Monocular Night Vision
  • HALEM-2 laser rangefinder
  • 15/80 binocular
  • PSZNR-5 recce locator
  • FMG 68 decontamination vehicle
  • SSM-1 chemical marker
  • IH-95 radiation level and contamination meter
  • CAM radiation level and contamination meter
  • VFK chemical recce pack
  • DS-10 regiment decontamination pack
  • TMF-2 automatic weather station
  • 2015M protecting suit
  • DECOCOM 3000 decontamination container
  • regiment decontamination trailer
  • 60 mm mortar

Infantry weapons
Handguns and submachine guns
ModelImageOriginTypeDetails
CZ SCORPION EVO 3 Czech Republic
 Hungary		Submachine gunNew standard submachine guns. Assembled in Hungary.[12][13]
Heckler & Koch MP5 A3 GermanySubmachine gunUsed by Special Forces
CZ P-09

CZ P-07

  Czech Republic
 Hungary		Semi-automatic pistolAssembled in Hungary.[12][13]
P9RC HungaryHandgunService Handgun, replacing PA-63.
Glock 17 AustriaSemi-automatic pistolUsed by Special Forces
Shotguns
Remington 870 Marine United StatesPump action shotgun
Assault rifles, rifles and carbines
CZ Bren 2 Czech Republic
 Hungary		Assault rifleAssembled in Hungary. Intended to replace the AK-63.[12][13]
AK-63 HungaryAssault rifleMain service rifle of the Hungarian Ground Forces and is the modernized variant of the AKM rifle. 7700 rifles have been modernized, more to follow. Versions: AK-63D/E/MF
M4A1 United StatesAssault rifleUsed by Special Forces
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 Austria-HungaryRifleCeremonial rifle.
SKS Soviet UnionSemi-automatic carbineCeremonial rifle.
Machine guns
M249 SAW United StatesLight machine gunUsed by Special Forces
PKM Soviet UnionGeneral-purpose machine gun
M2 Browning United StatesHeavy machine gun
Sniper rifles
Szép sniper rifle HungarySniper rifle[14]
M24 SWS United StatesSniper rifleUsed by Special Forces
Dragunov SVD Soviet UnionSniper rifleWill be replaced by Szép sniper rifle
Gepárd HungaryAnti-materiel rifle
M110 United StatesSemi-automatic sniper system
Anti tank weapons
Carl Gustaf M4 SwedenRecoilless rifleDeliveries will take place between 2019-2024.[15][16] 100 in service as of 2020. [17]
9К115-2 Metis-M RussiaAnti-tank missile Unknown number delivered by Russia between 1996-1997.[18]
9M113 Konkurs Soviet UnionAnti-tank missile [19]
9K111 Fagot Soviet UnionAnti-tank missile [19]
RPG-7 Soviet UnionRocket-propelled grenade[20]
Grenades and grenade launchers
H&K M320 GermanyGrenade launcherUsed by Special Forces

Vehicles
ModelImageOriginTypeVariantActive NumberDetails
Main battle tanks
Leopard 2  Germany Main battle tankLeopard 2A7+
Leopard 2A4		0 (44 on order)
12[21]		44 Leopard 2A7+ and 12 Leopard 2A4 tanks on order.[22][23]
T-72 Soviet Union
 Belarus		Main battle tankT-72M134[24]~ 130 tanks in reserve.[24] Will be replaced by the Leopard 2A7+ in the 2020s.[23]
Armoured fighting vehicles
Lynx Germany
 Hungary		Infantry fighting vehicleKF410 (218 on order)On August 16, 2020 the Government of Hungary and Rheinmetall Group have signed a contract to start manufacturing the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle family in Hungary. Estimated to start arriving around 2024-2025, the first batch of 200+ Lynx vehicles are expected to reach operational capability in the Hungarian Defence Forces by 2026-2027. Government of Hungary and Rheinmetall Group have signed a contract to establish a joint venture to start manufacturing the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle in Hungary. The deal is estimated to worth over 2B euros including technology transfers and it confirms the Hungarian Defence Forces has chosen the Lynx KF41 as the next-gen tracked IFV for its armed forces.[25]

On September 9, the Hungarian Defence Forces officially ordered 218 Lynx Kf41 vehicles, out of which 172 will be manufactured in Hungary.[26]

BTR-80 Soviet Union
 Russia
 Hungary		Amphibious armoured personnel carrierBTR-80A
BTR-80
BTR-80 SKJ
BTR-80 VSF
BTR-80 MVJ
BTR-80 MPAEJ
BTR-80 MPFJ		120
260[19]
Unknown
4[27]
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
555 units received from Russia between 1996-1999.[18] Modernized Hungarian-upgraded BTR-80s for technical rescue, medical rescue and NBC missions.
BRDM-2 Soviet UnionCombat reconnaissance vehicleBRDM-2
VSBRDM-2M		12[28]
5[27]		Equipped with 9M111 and 9M113 Konkurs anit-tank missiles,[29][30] others (VSBRDM-2M) are modified and upgraded for NBC missions.[31][27]
Gidrán 4x4 Turkey
 Hungary Germany		MRAP10 (40 on order)[32]First 10 vehicles are from Turkey, the rest of the order will be based on a Nurol Holding licence and it is planned to be manufactured and developed in Hungary in collaboration with Rheinmetall.[33] Around 300 planned.[32]
M-ATV United StatesMRAP20+Used by the Hungarian special forces in Afghanistan.[34]
Cougar United StatesMRAP13Used by the Hungarian special forces in Afghanistan.[35][36]
Maxxpro United StatesMRAP~42[19]Bought second-hand.[37][38]
M1151 HMMWV United StatesUtility vehicle80+Most of them used by the Hungarian special forces.[39]
Polaris RZR United StatesLight utility vehicle12Used by the Hungarian special forces.[40][41]
Artillery
PzH 2000 GermanySelf-propelled artillery024 on order.[42]
D-20 Soviet UnionHowitzer12[19]283 in reserve.[43]
Surface-to-air-missile systems
NASAMS United StatesSelf-propelled SAM systemUnknownKongsberg Defence Systems and Raytheon were awarded a 410 million euro contract to deliver the NASAMS system to the Hungarian Defence forces.[44]
2K12 Kub Soviet Union
 Hungary
 Poland		Self-propelled SAM system16[19]Modernized in collaboration with Poland.[45]
Mistral FranceSurface-to-air missile185[46]Mistral 3 + Safran Matis[19][47]
Military engineering vehicles
PTS Soviet UnionAmphibious vehiclePTS-250+Some in reserve. Very large tracked amphibious vehicle used for crossing water bodies and building bridges across rivers
PMP  Soviet Union Pontoon bridge 3 3 active set. Each set consists of 32 river element, 4 bank element, 2 track element, 12 bridging boat and 38 KraZ-255. The maximal length of one set is 227 metres.[48]
WISENT 2  Germany Armoured support vehicle 0 5 on order.[49]
Leguan GermanyArmoured vehicle-launched bridge 0 3 on order. The new Leguans are going to replace the BLG-60M armoured bridgelayers which will be transferred to the 37th Engineer Regiment.[49]

Büffel (BPz 3)

  Germany Armoured recovery vehicle 0 9 vehicles were ordered in September 2020 as part of the establishment of the joint Lynx (Rheinmetall armoured fighting vehicle) manufacturing plant in Hungary. Deliveries are scheduled for 2023.
MT-55A  Czechoslovakia Armoured vehicle-launched bridge 2 [50]
BLG-60M  East Germany Armoured vehicle-launched bridge BLG-60M2
TMM  Soviet Union Vehicle-launched bridge TMM-3 4 [51] [52]
VT-55 Soviet UnionArmoured recovery vehicleVT-552
VT-72B CzechoslovakiaArmoured recovery vehicle 2 [53]
BAT-2 Soviet UnionArmoured tracklayerBAT-22[54]
Utility vehicles, trucks
ModelImageOriginTypeVariantActive NumberDetails
Rába HungaryTruckH14
H18
H25		Unknown
Unknown
Unknown		The new H-14 series, can be armoured within 48 hours. The armour defends soldiers from bullets, splinters and IEDs.[55]

Production of Rába H-14, H-18, and H-25 trucks commenced in 2004, these initially locally designed chassis fitted with MAN engines, associated components including cooling system and the MAN modular military cab. Current production is CKD using some locally sourced components such as axles. About 300 examples were built using components supplied between 2004-2006, with a further 150 assembled from CKD kits delivered from 2007.

RMMV HX range of tactical trucks GermanyTruckHX7763Will also receive up to 150 RMMV HX77 8x8 trucks, with 63 delivered since 2007.
Mercedes-Benz Unimog GermanyTruck88
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter GermanyVanVan
Ambulance		12
7[56]
Mercedes-Benz G-Class GermanyUtility vehicleG-270
G-280		223
Standard utility vehicle
Ikarus HungaryBusE95
Aries		20
100[57]		100 Currus-Volvo Aries delivered to replace Ikarus 250, 256, 280
Suzuki Vitara HungarySUV550[58]Standard staff car
Skoda Octavia Czech RepublicSedanUnknownUsed by Military Police
Toyota Hilux JapanPickup90[59]16 used by Military Police,[60] and another 6 will be used by the Military Cartography teams.[61]
Volkswagen Transporter GermanyVanT6 Van
T6 Pickup truck		80
10
Volkswagen Crafter GermanyPickup truck70

River fleet
ModelImageOriginTypeActive NumberDetails
Neštin-class YugoslaviaMinesweeper36 minesweepers were received from Yugoslavia in 1981. As of 2020, 3 of them are in active service and the other 3 were sold.[62]
AN 2  Hungary Minesweeper 5 40 minesweepers were built between 1953 and 1956. As of 2020, 5 of them are in active service, 1 in reserve and the rest were sold.[62] [63][64][65]

Ranks and insignia
Main article: Military ranks of Hungary

See also

Citations
  1. Order of battle of Hungarian People's Army, 1963.
  2. Michael Holm, 3rd Mechanised Corps - 3. Gépesített Hadtest - Military Unit: 6639, accessed November 2020.
  3. "MH 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal and River Flotilla Regiment" (in Hungarian).
  4. "MH 2nd Special Forces Brigade" (in Hungarian).
  5. "MH 5th Infantry Brigade" (in Hungarian).
  6. "MH 24th Reconnaissance Regiment" (in Hungarian).
  7. "MH 25th Infantry Brigade" (in Hungarian).
  8. "Hungary signs deal to buy dozens of tanks, howitzers from Germany's KMW". Defense News. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. "MH 37th Engineer Regiment" (in Hungarian).
  10. "MH 43rd Signal and Command Support Regiment" (in Hungarian).
  11. "MH 93. Petőfi Sándor Vegyivédelmi Zászlóalj" (in Hungarian).
  12. Moss, Matthew (10 April 2018). "Hungary to Produce CZ Weapons Under License".
  13. Wilk, Remigiusz (20 December 2018). "Hungarian Defence Forces receive CZ BREN 2 rifles". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Saab Receives Order for Carl-Gustaf M4". 19 Dec 2018.
  16. "Anti-Armour Change-Over". 12 Sep 2019.
  17. "A Honvédelmi és rendészeti bizottság előtt hallgatták meg Dr. Benkő Tibor honvédelmi minisztert" (in Hungarian). 30 Dec 2020.
  18. "SIPRI Trade Register".
  19. IISS 2019, p. 117.
  20. "History of the 5th Infantry Brigade" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  21. "Teljes a "létszám"" (in Hungarian).
  22. Braatz, Kurt (19 December 2018). "Krauss-Maffei Wegmann unterstützt ungarische Heeres-Modernisierung" (PDF). Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (in German). Munich. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  23. Dunai, Peter (20 December 2018). "Update: Hungary orders Leopard 2 MBTs and PzH 2000 SPHs". IHS Jane's 360. Budapest. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  24. "Hungarian armed forces upgrade ground troop equipment". Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  25. "Operational Advisor Group Received New Combat Vehicles".
  26. "Lynx gyalogsági harcjárműveket kap a Magyar Honvédség".
  27. "Chemical Protection Unit Installed at Csörlőház". 3 Jun 2009.
  28. "Artillerymen are Celebrated on 4 December". 4 Dec 2010.
  29. "Flame Flowers Over the Minefield". 23 May 2014.
  30. "Rain, Snow and ATGM". 14 Nov 2007.
  31. "Upgrades at the Pride of the Defence Forces". 14 Nov 2007.
  32. "40 new armored vehicles ordered for the defence forces" (in Hungarian). 21 December 2020.
  33. "Brand new military vehicles will be produced in Hungary" (in Hungarian). 18 December 2020.
  34. "Operational Advisor Group Received New Combat Vehicles". 24 Apr 2014.
  35. "Cougars Entered into Service in Afghanistan". 19 Mar 2010.
  36. "Cougar Combat Vehicles for the Safety of Hungarian Soldiers". 8 Apr 2009.
  37. "Maximal Protection". 10 Feb 2011.
  38. "New MRAPs in Front Line". 10 Jan 2011.
  39. Valid HTML and CSS: Fülöp Gergely (dreamlite), ACME engine: Aurum / (2008-08-18). "Honvédelmi Minisztérium". Hm.gov.hu. Archived from the original on 2010-10-17. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
  40. "Hungarian Defence Forces Under Dynamic Development". 29 Mar 2018.
  41. "Polaris MRZR 4: No Obstacles!". 20 Apr 2018.
  42. Dunai, Peter (20 December 2018). "Hungary Orders Leopard 2 MBTs and PzH 2000 SPHs". IHS Jane's.
  43. "'Hibernated Abilities' Have Been Resurrected". 30 Jan 2012.
  44. "HUNGARY SELECTS KONGSBERG AND RAYTHEON MISSILES & DEFENSE FOR MEDIUM RANGE AIR DEFENSE". 30 Nov 2020.
  45. "2K12 KUB in Service of 12th Air-defense Missile Regiment". 27 Nov 2012.
  46. "UNROCA original report Hungary 2017". unroca.org.
  47. "MISTRAL in Service of 12th Air-defense Missile Regiment". 27 Nov 2012.
  48. "Pontoon Bridge over Danube, Tisza and Szava". 9 Jul 2009.
  49. "Generation Change". 20 Feb 2019.
  50. "Bridgelayers Around the World". honvedelem.hu. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  51. "Military Logistics" (pdf). epa.hu. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  52. "Demonstration of Technical Training Tasks".
  53. "Hungarian T-72s".
  54. "Caterpillar Monsters and Special Abilities". 3 Apr 2008.
  55. "Image: H14_00.jpg, (1024 × 672 px)". raba.hu. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  56. "Új mentőkkel bővült a honvédségi járműpark" (in Hungarian). honvedelem.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  57. "Hungarian army receives 100th Ikarus Aries" (in Hungarian). honvedelem.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  58. "Átadták az új honvédségi szolgálati gépjárműveket a fővárosban" (in Hungarian). honvedelem.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  59. "Toyota Hilux in Service with Military Police" (in Hungarian). toyotanews.eu. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  60. "Military Police received 16 Toyota Hilux" (in Hungarian). autonavigator.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  61. "Military Cartography uses Toyota Hilux's" (in Hungarian). magyarnemzet.hu. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  62. "Equipments and Abilities of the Hungarian River Fleet Subdivision". 11 Jun 2013.
  63. "Reconstruction of 2 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Patrol Boats" (PDF). 18 Feb 2019.
  64. "Reconstructed Patrol Boats at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Brigade". 5 Nov 2019.
  65. "Patrol Boats on the Water". 11 Sep 2020.

References
  • IISS (2019). The Military Balance 2019. Routledge. ISBN 978-1857439885.
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