Hungary

Arms Sold:

Additional Arms:
Litening

Companies:

Additional Companies:
Avnon Group, Cytrox

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Hungary

Introduction

Israel and Hungary maintain close economic and military relations. Hungary acquired a number of significant arms, including anti-aircraft systems, artillery, drones and cyber technologies.

Israel – Hungary Relations

Since 2010 Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban has built alliances with Israel, especially former Prime Minister Netanyahu.[1]Netanyahu, Orban, and the Resurgence of Antisemitism: Lessons of the Last Century. In 2017 Netanyahu made an official visit to Hungary and met Orban. He participated in an economic forum alongside with a delegation of dozens of Israeli companies. After his visit in Hungary he took part in a summit of the four-country Visegrad group made up of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[2]Israel – Visegrad Group Joint Statement The V4 states’ officials have re­peatedly expressed interest in Israeli secu­rity technologies, the purchase of Israeli weapons and equipment, as well as in train­ings with the Israeli military.[3]The Visegrád Group’s Policy towards Israel Common Values and Interests as a Catalyst for Cooperation

In 2019 prime minister Orban visited Israel and met Netanyahu. Orban and the leaders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic arrived in Jerusalem, holding brief individual bilateral meetings with Netanyahu, as well as one joint meeting.[4]Hungary to open office with ‘diplomatic status’ in Jerusalem

Israel’s export stood on $125m in 2020 with the main export sectors being Electrical Machinery, Pharmaceutical Products, Organic Chemicals and Mechanic equipment according to the Israel Export Institute.[5]Export Gov Israel : Country Snapshot – Hungary

Signed agreements:

2006: agreement on economic cooperation, specifically in water, environmental, R&D, and venture capital sectors.[6]Israel, Hungary sign economic cooperation agreement

2014: Hungary and Israel signed a scientific cooperation agreement. It appears primarily focused on academic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.[7]Hungary and Israel Forging Scientific Cooperation

2021: agreement regarding cooperation in laser and artificial technologies (including research into drones).[8]Hungary and Israel to cooperate in AI and laser technology/

2021: Hungary announced in 2021 that it will build 1000 mobile tactical shelters for Israel to defend itself against rocket strikes.[9]Hungary to Build Mobile Tactical Shelters for Israel

Military Relations

In 2017 Hungary announced a comprehensive program to modernize and expand its military industry, both in support of its own forces, to develop weapons for export[10]Modernization and Rearmament – Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 Programand to reach the 2% of GDP military expenditures required by NATO. [11]Hungary Is Significantly Improving Its Military This involves partnerships or deals with several different countries, including Israel.  

In 2010 two Gulfstream Intelligence airplanes of the Israeli Air Force conducted a low-level pass over Budapest. It is not clear what was their mission and if they were involved in the killing of an Hungarian-Syrian citizen in Budapest.[12]Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official

In 2015 a meeting between Hungarian and Israeli governmental and academic officials were conducted at the National University of Public Service (NUPS) in Budapest, Hungary. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen relations between Hungary and Israel in research, policy and security issues. The sponsor of the conference was Israeli Ambassador to Hungary. Management from Galilee International Management Institute participated in the meeting.[13]28/10/2015 | GIMI Cooperation with the Government of Hungary

In 2020 Hungary aqcuired MMR anti-aircraft and artillery radars ordered by the Israeli company ELTA[14]Rheinmetall and IAI/ELTA to supply Hungary with advanced radar systems and showed interest in purchasing also Hermes drones.[15]Izraeli rakétákat és robotrepülőket rendszeresíthet a honvédség

In July 2021 it was reported that Hungary aqcuired SPIKE missiles for infantry combat vehicles.[16]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles? A statement by the Hungarian defense procurement agency said that during a visit by a Hungarian defense delegation to Israel in July 2021, Gáspár Maróth, the Hungarian government’s commissioner for defense, and Zvi Marmor, head of the Precision Tactical Weapons Systems Division of Rafael, signed an agreement for the supply of Spike missiles for 220 Lynx KF41 APCs, which the Hungarian government purchased from the German company Rheinmetall in 2020 for $2.38 billion.[17]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?

During the visit to Israel, the Hungarian delegation also visited the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) plant of Israel Aerospace Industries, the ELTA plant that manufactures Iron Dome radars, and Elbit.[18]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?

Joint Training:

On August 27, 2020, the Israeli Air Force, German Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force completed a joint excersice in Germany. Hungary piloted the Gripen aircraft (JAS-39).[19]IAF Completes Historic Joint Exercise

Cyber Security:

In the beginning of the 2000s Israel and Hungary began organizing joint IT/Cyber-forums. In the second Forum, that was organized in Budapest in participation of Hungary’s minister of communication and minister of Economy, many Israeli tech-companies participated, including IAI.[20]the High-Tech Israel Hungary Forum ended

In 2017 IAI invested in the Israeli/Hungarian company Cytrox, which provides governments with an operational cyber solution for design, management and implementation of cyber intelligence as well as innovative engines for gathering intelligence from end devices and cloud services. IAI’s investments will be carried out by IAI’s Cyber Division, with the goal of expanding IAI’s cyber R&D and its global footprint in this field.[21]IAI Invests in two Cyber Companies in Holland and Hungary Cytrox was reported to be part of Intellexa, the so-called “Star Alliance of Spyware” which was founded by the Israeli Ex-Military officer Tal Dilian. Cytrox was acquired by Dilian in 2018.[22]Pegasus vs. Predator Dissident’s Doubly-Infected iPhone Reveals Cytrox Mercenary Spyware

In 2018 Budapest Police acquired Cellebrite’s UFED devices.[23]TED Europa Contract Notice : Hungary-Budapest: Software package and information systems In 2019 another contract for UFED devices were made by Budapest Police.[24]TED Europa Contract Award Notice : Hungary Budapest Police UFED

In September 2022 the Israeli company Avnon Group confirmed the sale of a social media-tracking software to Hungary, that was approved by the Israeli Defense Ministry.[25]Israeli firm to sell social media-tracking software to Orban’s Hungary

Pegasus (NSO Group):

A lawmaker from Hungary’s ruling party has acknowledged in November 2021 that the Interior Ministry bought and used Pegasus spy software.[26]Hungary admits to using NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware

In July 2021 the Pegasus project, a collaborative investigation run by the French nonprofit journalism organisation Forbidden Stories, has reviewed leaked records that suggest a wide range of people in Hungary were selected as potential targets before a possible hacking attempt with the Pegasus spyware, sold by the Israeli company NSO Group. In a number of cases, forensic analysis confirmed devices had been infected with Pegasus. The records also include the numbers of at least 10 lawyers, an opposition politician and at least five journalists.[27]Viktor Orbán using NSO spyware in assault on media, data suggests In January 2022 it was reported that the Hungarian government has allegedly hired a Washington DC lobbyist who is linked to Israeli company NSO Group to prepare for potential US sanctions.[28]Hungary hires ex-Pegasus spyware lobbyist

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Hungarian government and the NSO Group in Hungary, Israel and in the EU in January 2022.[29]‘I Was in Touch With Likud, Israelis’: Pegasus Victims Fight Hungary, NSO

Usage of Israeli Arms

Skylark (Pacsirta) – In usage since 2009 by Hungarian Defense Forces. In 2014 the army reported that many deployments have already taken place. According to the source it was used in Afghanistan in many occasions.[30]Debrecen is the “lark nest” of the Hungarian Defense Forces Installation and training took place at the Hajdúhadház training base in Debrecen, Hungary. The Hungarian Armed Forces has also ordered training from the Israeli company Elbit.[31]Hajdúhadházon mutatták be a pilóta nélküli repülőgépet

Litening Pod – In usage on Saab JAS 39C Gripens fighter jets, Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).[32]Hungarian Gripens showcase new capabilities in NATO Baltic Air Policing mission

Pegasus – Hungarian Interior Ministry bought and used Pegasus spy software. [33]hungary admits

Human Rights Violations

Hungary’s government used the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to continue its attacks on rule of law and democratic institutions. The government declared a state of emergency in March, seizing unlimited power to rule by decree without parliamentary and judicial review. Before the state of emergency was revoked in mid-June 2020, the government had issued hundreds of decrees, including on issues unrelated to public health. The government made access to asylum close to impossible, interfered with independent media and academia, launched an assault on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, and undermined women’s rights. Hungary’s Roma minority continue to face widespread and systemic discrimination.[34]HRW Hungary Report 2020

In its Rule of Law report released in October, the European Union Commission raised concerns about the lack of independence of the judiciary, intimidation of independent media, and the impact of the weakening of independent institutions and pressures on civil society on democratic checks and balances.[35]HRW Hungary Report 2020

In June 2020, new rules introduced severely limited access to asylum. Transitional measures, denounced by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, removed the possibility for asylum-seekers to submit applications inside Hungary, instead requiring them to first submit a “declaration of intent” at selected embassies outside the country.[36]Amnesty Human Rights Report Hungary 2021

Asylum seekers entering, mostly from Serbia, were expelled, often collectively. By the end of 2020, police pushbacks across the border fence exceeded 30,000, in breach of the obligation to individually assess the risk of refoulement, the forcible return of individuals to countries where they risk serious human rights violations. In December, the CJEU ruled that such returns breached EU law.[37]HRW Hungary Report 2020

At the end of 2015, Hungary established two transit zones near the fence along the Serbian border. Here, refugees were able to apply for asylum. However, in recent years, the conditions for staying there had become more and more restrictive. Couples and families were separated; only babies were allowed to stay with their mothers. The accommodation was extremely cramped, and resembled the high-security wing of a prison. Finally, refugees were also hardly being given any food.[38]How Hungary is violating EU law on refugees

In 2017 Hungary began building a fence on its border with Serbia, capable of delivering electric shocks to unwanted migrants and armed with heat sensors, cameras, and loudspeakers that blare in several languages.[39]Hungary builds new high-tech border fence – with few migrants in sight

Hungary’s investment in migration-management technology is shielded from public scrutiny by a 2017 legal amendment but its lack of transparency and practice of pushing migrants back have been criticised by other EU nations and the European court of justice, leading to Frontex suspending operations in Hungary in January.[40]‘They can see us in the dark’: migrants grapple with hi-tech fortress EU

Viktor Orban, Prime Minister since 2010, has been accused of encouraging far right activity in general and anti-Semitism in particular, and has increasingly aligned himself with what has been called “illiberal pseudo-democracies led by ‘elected authoritarians’”.[41]Analysis | Israel Needs to Step Away From the Trump-Orbán-Bolsonaro Illiberal Alliance

References
1 Netanyahu, Orban, and the Resurgence of Antisemitism: Lessons of the Last Century.
2 Israel – Visegrad Group Joint Statement
3 The Visegrád Group’s Policy towards Israel Common Values and Interests as a Catalyst for Cooperation
4 Hungary to open office with ‘diplomatic status’ in Jerusalem
5 Export Gov Israel : Country Snapshot – Hungary
6 Israel, Hungary sign economic cooperation agreement
7 Hungary and Israel Forging Scientific Cooperation
8 Hungary and Israel to cooperate in AI and laser technology/
9 Hungary to Build Mobile Tactical Shelters for Israel
10 Modernization and Rearmament – Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 Program
11 Hungary Is Significantly Improving Its Military
12 Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official
13 28/10/2015 | GIMI Cooperation with the Government of Hungary
14 Rheinmetall and IAI/ELTA to supply Hungary with advanced radar systems
15 Izraeli rakétákat és robotrepülőket rendszeresíthet a honvédség
16 Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?
17 Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?
18 Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?
19 IAF Completes Historic Joint Exercise
20 the High-Tech Israel Hungary Forum ended
21 IAI Invests in two Cyber Companies in Holland and Hungary
22 Pegasus vs. Predator Dissident’s Doubly-Infected iPhone Reveals Cytrox Mercenary Spyware
23 TED Europa Contract Notice : Hungary-Budapest: Software package and information systems
24 TED Europa Contract Award Notice : Hungary Budapest Police UFED
25 Israeli firm to sell social media-tracking software to Orban’s Hungary
26 Hungary admits to using NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware
27 Viktor Orbán using NSO spyware in assault on media, data suggests
28 Hungary hires ex-Pegasus spyware lobbyist
29 ‘I Was in Touch With Likud, Israelis’: Pegasus Victims Fight Hungary, NSO
30 Debrecen is the “lark nest” of the Hungarian Defense Forces
31 Hajdúhadházon mutatták be a pilóta nélküli repülőgépet
32 Hungarian Gripens showcase new capabilities in NATO Baltic Air Policing mission
33 hungary admits
34 HRW Hungary Report 2020
35 HRW Hungary Report 2020
36 Amnesty Human Rights Report Hungary 2021
37 HRW Hungary Report 2020
38 How Hungary is violating EU law on refugees
39 Hungary builds new high-tech border fence – with few migrants in sight
40 ‘They can see us in the dark’: migrants grapple with hi-tech fortress EU
41 Analysis | Israel Needs to Step Away From the Trump-Orbán-Bolsonaro Illiberal Alliance