Hungary Eyes U.S. HIMARS Acquisition Amid Strengthened Defense Ties

Hungary is moving closer toward acquiring U.S.-made HIMARS rocket artillery systems as part of its long-term defense modernization program, following high-level talks in Washington between Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Elbridge A. Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

Speaking after the November 7 meeting at the Pentagon, Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed that discussions centered on Hungary’s potential purchase of HIMARS systems and associated missiles, with the transaction projected to unfold over the next three to five years, pending authorization by the U.S. Congress.

“We have a list, a 10-year military development plan that includes planned purchases in a wide variety of areas,” the Minister stated.

The Defense Minister described the tone of the Washington meetings as “changed and friendly,” contrasting it with previous U.S. administrations that, he said, had “acted in an obstructive manner” toward Hungary’s defense ambitions.

According to Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump the previous day set a positive tone for renewed cooperation, paving the way for expanded defense, technology, and space industry collaboration between the two nations.

When asked about earlier reports from 2023 suggesting that Hungary was seeking 20–24 HIMARS launchers and around 100 rockets, the Minister clarified that while the figures were “not exact,” they were “approximately correct” in scale. He emphasized that such acquisitions are subject to a lengthy process of congressional approval and production scheduling, noting the high global demand for HIMARS systems.

“HIMARS is a highly sought-after weapon system, and there is a waiting list. It’s not possible to give an exact deadline,” he added.

The Minister underscored that preliminary negotiations have already begun and that future discussions will refine the specific defense technologies and industrial cooperation frameworks Hungary can access as part of a broader U.S.–Hungarian defense partnership.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky also reiterated that the United States expects its European allies to enhance their self-defense capabilities, a goal Hungary continues to pursue through its own accelerated military modernization efforts under the Zrínyi 2026 program.