The first Hungarian-made Lynx KF-41 infantry fighting vehicle of the Hungarian Defense Forces has rolled off the production line in Zalaegerszeg, announced the Minister of National Defense at an event held at the Rheinmetall factory in Zalaegerszeg.
Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall’s vehicle systems business, said that the Zalaegerszeg factory was handed over less than a year ago, where the very first Lynx KF-41, the world’s most modern infantry fighting vehicle, has now been completed. It is not visible, but what has happened in the background in recent years is much more significant, since Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt. was established 3.5 years ago, and then the combat vehicle factory in Zala was built as a green field investment, which uses the most modern production technology. He also announced that in the future, other versions of combat vehicles will also be produced in Zalaegerszeg, such as command and escort vehicles, as well as ambulances. In addition to all this, a new air defense system is being developed, which will further increase the strength of the Hungarian national defense and the security of Europe. They are able to produce more than 100 vehicles per year in Europe’s most modern factory with development and testing capacity. They currently employ more than 220 workers, but they plan to hire another 200 Hungarian employees in the coming years.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the handover: the war in Ukraine showed that every country needs a well-functioning military industry capable of supplying the country at all times and in all situations. Regarding the efforts aimed at rebuilding the domestic military industry, he said: the conflict taking place in the neighborhood “proved once again that the military industry – tank production and ammunition production capacities – cannot be improvised”, this requires long-term development and planning. The minister explained: the Hungarian military industry, which was once capable of legendary achievements, must be rebuilt, we must use everything we are good at, and we must build fruitful partnerships with our allies in order to obtain what we lack. The established plants must be integrated into the fabric of the national economy, and the results of research and development must be made available to the civil sector.
As a result of this program, Hungary is “slowly returning to the class it belonged to, the professional league”. The domestic military industry is already serious, capable of outstanding performance on the international stage as well. The Gidrans and the various drones built here are at the forefront of the world, in the next few days the ammunition factory in Várpalota will also be handed over – he noted. With these and future projects, “the defense industry can take its place in the engine of the Hungarian economy” not simply as a screw, but as a cylinder, stated Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. He added that Hungary’s aspiration is for the military industry to be able to produce all the necessary equipment for the army, but this requires reliable and predictable partners. These partners understand well the changes in the international military industry, are at the forefront of developments and are able to deliver at the highest level, think together, and work together.
Hungary highly values the role played by Rheinmetall in world and especially European security. It takes strength to preserve peace, and thanks to the activities of Rheinmetall and the Hungarians working here, our country has grown significantly, he emphasized. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized that the Lynx is “a different universe compared to BTRs” in the Hungarian Defense Forces. A combat vehicle capable of taking on all non-allied combat vehicles, including tanks, anywhere in the world. At the same time, he noted that highly trained soldiers are also needed to deploy high-tech equipment and, if necessary, to fight. That’s why the first, Ember a vas, was announced for Lynx last fall! recruitment campaign, thanks to which it was possible to set up a professional corps of extremely dedicated national guardsmen.
Source: sg.hu
