Editing Hungarian Defence Forces (section)

=== The 1990s and Twenty-first century ===
In 1997, Hungary spent about 123 billion HUF (US$560 million) on defence. Hungary became a member of [[NATO]] on 12 March 1999. Hungary provided airbases and support for [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|NATO's air campaign]] against [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]] and has provided military units to serve in [[Kosovo]] as part of the NATO-led [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] operation. Hungary has sent a 300 strong logistics unit to [[Iraq]] in order to help the US occupation with armed transport convoys, though public opinion opposed the country's participation in the [[Iraq War|war]]. One soldier was [[killed in action]] due to a roadside bomb in Iraq. The parliament refused to extend the one year mandate of the logistics unit and all troops have returned from Iraq as of mid-January 2005. Hungarian troops were still in [[Afghanistan]] as of early 2005 as part of the [[International Security Assistance Force]]. There were reports that Hungary would most probably replace its old UAZ 4x4 vehicles with the modern [[Iveco LMV]] types, but it never happened. Hungarian forces deploy the [[Gepard anti-materiel rifle|Gepárd anti-materiel rifle]], which is a heavy 12.7&nbsp;mm portable gun. This equipment is also in use by the Turkish and Croatian armed forces, among other armies.

In a significant move for modernization, Hungary decided in 2001 to lease 14 [[JAS 39 Gripen]] fighter aircraft (the contract includes 2 dual-seater airplanes and 12 single-seaters as well as ground maintenance facilities, a simulator, and training for pilots and ground crews) for 210 billion HUF (about 800 million EUR). Five Gripens (3 single-seaters and 2 two-seaters) arrived in [[Kecskemét]] on 21 March 2006, expected to be transferred to the Hungarian Air Force on March 30.
10 or 14 more aircraft of this type might follow up in the coming years.

In early 2015, Hungary and Sweden extended the lease-program for another 10 years with a total of 32,000 flight-hours (95% increase) for only a 45% increase in cost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defense-update.com/20120201_sweden-hungary-extend-gripen-lease.html|title=Sweden, Hungary Extend Gripen Lease – Defense Update|website=defense-update.com|date=February 2012 }}</ref>