László Palkovics, Minister for Technology and Innovation, said cooperation between Hungary and German armed vehicle manufacturer Rheinmetall is faring well, with a plant in Zalaegerszeg, in south-western Hungary, slated to be inaugurated within the next two weeks and construction of two ammunition plants planned to start soon in Várpalota. Speaking in Villepinte, near Paris, on the sidelines of the Eurosatory defence and security exhibition, Minister Palkovics said that besides the production agreement, Rheinmetall has also signed a research agreement with Hungary, on developing a hybrid armoured infantry vehicle.
What's more, Airbus is opening a helicopter parts plant in Gyula, in south-eastern Hungary, this month. “Besides gun, ammunition and land vehicle manufacturing, Hungary has also put itself on the map of aircraft manufacturing,” Minister Palkovics said. Hungary has also bought 500 vehicles from Nurol Makina, a Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer, he added. Eurosatory, the largest defence exhibition in Europe, has drawn 1,700 exhibitors from 62 countries this year. Over 200 delegations and 100,000 visitors are expected. The exhibition runs between 13 and 17 June.
Photo credit: MTI