A Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS-39C Gripen displaying at RAF Fairford on the Saturday of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2023. Pilot, Captain David Szentendrei, was awarded The Paul Bowen Trophy for his displays during the show. This trophy is presented in memory of The Royal International Air Tattoo's co-founder, Paul Bowen, for the Tattoo's Best Solo Jet Demonstration.
Hungary became an operator of the highly successful Saab Gripen in 2006, when it took on charge the first of 14 examples. Currently operated under a leasing arrangement with the Swedish government, renewed for another decade during 2012, these comprise a dozen single-seat JAS-39C variants and a pair of JAS-39D two-seaters. All are flown by the 'Puma' squadron of the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kecskemét. Adding the Gripen to its inventory has boosted significantly the front-line capabilities of the Hungarian Air Force, which was previously reliant on Warsaw Pact-era combat equipment like the MiG-29. Hungary has recently committed its Gripens to joining the multi-national air policing efforts over Slovenia and the Baltic states.
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