Hungarian AAR Concept – Way Ahead

Absztrakt

Refuelling (AAR) capability is crucial to the Hungarian tactical fighter community, the HUNAF, the HDF and even to the entire Hungarian defence strategy. The article also describes the history of the development of this capability and also the challenges that we face to maintain AAR in the future.
BY entering the JAS-39 Gripen tactical fighter aircraft into the Hungarian inventory we didn’t just simply purchase a new aircraft type but introduced a series of new capabilities that are part of the modern western war-fighting principals that NATO is counting and building on. Such capabilities are the Link 16 Tactical Data-link system, the Litening III targeting pod, the precision guided munitions systems, the Night Vision Goggle capability, the sophisticated Electronic Warfare System with the necessary intel and analytical background and the Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability.
In modern warfare current technology provides several force multipliers to achieve more objectives/goals with fewer capabilities and smaller military force. One of those Force Multipliers is the Air-to-Air Refuelling. That means because of the possibility to refuel our aircraft in flight we can keep them in the air for longer time, send them to farther targets and/or they can carry more ordnance to achieve greater effect on the enemy’s plans and capabilities. By understanding that “fuel is a weapon” we realized the importance of AAR.
All those capabilities must be integrated in the HDF with effect on our training, operations and logistics systems and generating the necessity of harmonization of existing doctrines and the development of appropriate operational guidelines, SOPs and other crucial documentation. The integration of the AAR capability in the HDF arsenal must have impact on all levels of military activities and areas of responsibilities (Strategic Concept, Operational Considerations and Planning, Tactical Implication and Technical Compatibility) and the future development plans as well. Maintaining the AAR trained aircrews’ currency is a key element of the maintenance of that capability. That requires adequate training environment including the material and technical assets availability as well.
The requirement of AAR capability will have consequences on the modernization of the HUNAF (Hungarian National) Military Airlift capability by incorporating that profile in the requirements (Tanker/Receiver) of the future transport aircraft types. AAR might have implications for the future helicopter fleet development too, depending on national ambitions to establish Special Operations support and/or Combat Search and Rescue capability.