One of the largest barracks in Central Europe is being built in Szolnok

The creation of the special operations barracks in Szolnok will be one of the biggest developments not only in Hungary, but also in Central Europe, the Minister of National Defense said on Friday at the laying of the foundation stone for the new military complex planned to replace the old barracks on Thököly Street. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky added: with this development – as with the pace and size of military development or the construction of the military industry – we are once again setting an example for the whole of Europe.

He stated: The special operations barracks in Szolnok will be the most modern military facility in Hungary.

Relying exclusively on Hungarian budget resources, the new home of the special purpose brigade, the special operations command and the command of the regional special operations component will be built with HUF 59 billion. The first phase of the investment will be completed by 2026, the minister said.

In Hungary, barracks were last handed over in 1976 in Győr he added.

The Minister of National Defense said that before 2010, the left-wing governments did not build anything, they just closed it. A number of barracks were closed, a mass of formations were abolished and liquidated, he said. Instead of replacing or at least maintaining outdated Soviet weaponry, they scrapped it, he added. Instead, we built and are building, and 2025 will be especially about development he highlighted.

The minister called the special operations forces and the international command the tip of the spear.

This brigade is the one that can be deployed at any moment at home and abroad at the highest military professional level, with the best quality weaponry, training and the highest level of readiness. Therefore, their preparation and stationing, their training, and the placement of their equipment require the highest standards, he emphasized.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovinczky also spoke about the fact that the Hungarian people will gain a lot from this investment. A trained soldier is the greatest value for us, and here in Szolnok everything will be available for the highest quality training, practice, housing and performance of tasks, he noted.

The national defense and force development program is progressing unabated – emphasized the minister. He said that it is not enough to carry out the largest-scale rearmament program of the Hungarian Armed Forces, to launch the most successful recruitment campaigns, it is not enough to develop and introduce new combat methods, the infrastructure must also be developed.

He said that many such investments are taking place and being completed throughout the country:

• A repair shop and a technical line were built in Tata,
• A repair shop and storage facility were established in Hódmezővásárhely,
• Hajdúhadházán logistics warehouse.

Among the investments, he mentioned, for example, the fireman’s crew building of the Irinyi barracks in Pest, and the hangar complex in Szolnok.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky also touched on the fact that recent years have brought dangers to us and the world. First, illegal migration, then Covid, then the war in the east and south all made us aware that security and peace are our greatest assets.

Peace will not come by itself, you have to fight for it he said. He pointed out that the Hungarian Prime Minister had been the only one at the forefront of creating peace for a long time, but now he finally got a great ally in the person of Donald Trump. He indicated that he trusts that the new pro-peace American president will do everything to create peace, because we need it so that we can finally enter the path of economic growth.

For me, the safety of Hungary and Hungarian families comes first – he emphasized, indicating that a modern Hungarian Defense Force with high operational value, well-equipped and trained to a high standard, respected in the NATO alliance system and well suited to it, will play a huge role in this. The special operations barracks in Szolnok serves this purpose, he added.

The minister also spoke about how the county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok is famous for its military past, and Szolnok is a pronounced military town and base. This base has already become overcrowded, the time has come for this development, where more than 2,000 soldiers will be on duty every day. The road and public works network will also be developed, the big winners of everything will be the soldiers and the people of Szolnok, as even bigger and more job opportunities, new needs, investments, services and developments will appear in the city and its surroundings.

The Minister of National Defense thanked the region’s Fidesz parliamentarian for his committed support. As he said, he hopes that in the new mayor they have received as good and strong a supporter as his predecessor. He thanked the members of the National Defense and the Ministry involved in the preparation for their work, and wished the winning contractor success in the work of the ZÁÉV.

Gábor Böröndi colonel-general, the head of the Honvéd General Staff, spoke at the event, among other things, about how the military reform, which began at the time, shows the image of an army whose combat readiness is increasing day by day, its number is increasing, and its technical equipment is becoming more and more modern.

The Hungarian National Guard is getting stronger every day, he emphasized.

Mária Kállaithe Fidesz parliamentary representative of the region called the development of historical importance and thanked the Hungarian government and the Ministry of National Defense. He said that Szolnok is nine hundred and fifty years old, where significant developments are taking place. He said: the construction of the barracks is also a kind of district rehabilitation.

He highlighted the connection of the M4 and the barracks, and the four-lane road in front of the barracks. In parallel with the reconstruction of the barracks, significant improvements are also being made at the helicopter base in Szolnok, new hangars are being built and the helicopter fleet is being modernized, he explained.