Aircraft

PICTURES: Hungarian Gripen fighter aircraft make Kecskemet show debut

By Craig Hoyle

The Hungarian air force's new Saab Gripen fighters were the star attractions at the nation's Kecskemet air show from 11-12 August, with the service's latest two examples having arrived on the eve of the biennial event, which attracted over 120,000 spectators.

© Nemeth Szabolcs/Gripen International

The Saab Gripen was making its debut as a Hungarian-operated aircraft at the show this year, with the Kecskemet-based 59th Tactical Fighter Wing now having 11 of its eventual 14 aircraft in service.

© Nemeth Szabolcs/Gripen International

Two single-seat Gripen Cs arrived at the site on 8 August after a flight of about 2h from Linköping in Sweden, with the air force expected to receive its three remaining examples before year-end.

Hungary now has nine Gripen Cs and two two-seat Gripen Ds in service, with the aircraft being operated under a lease/buy deal between the Hungarian defence ministry and Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration.

Images of other aircraft at the show - including visitors from the Croatian and Slovakian air forces - can be found in the Kecskemet gallery within Flight's AirSpace forum.

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