Hungarian Antonov at Le Bourget
An Unexpected Military Visitor
On May 18, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, observers around Paris-Le Bourget Airport (LBG/LFPB) were surprised to see an unusual visitor: an Antonov An-26B of the Hungarian Air Force, registration number 406.
This aircraft, a robust Soviet-made military transport aircraft, is a regular on logistics missions across Europe. But its presence at Paris-Le Bourget, an airport generally more frequented by business jets than military aircraft, attracted attention.
End of an Era
The Antonov An-26 Retired from Hungarian Service (June 2020). For 46 years, the Antonov An-26 was a mainstay of the Hungarian Air Force's tactical transport fleet, performing a variety of missions, from logistics to military parachute drops.
On June 11, 2020, the official retirement ceremony took place at Kecskemét Air Base, with Defense Minister Tibor Benkő and other senior officials in attendance.The last day of operation was June 23, 2020, symbolically marking the end of the An-26's active presence in the Hungarian Air Force.
The Hungarian fleet has accumulated approximately 83,000 flight hours, covering nearly 31 million kilometers, the equivalent of 773 circumnavigations.Initially deployed from 1974, with eleven aircraft delivered between 1974 and 1976, some of which underwent major refurbishments. Only the 406 remained operational until 2020.
Immediately thereafter, transport duties were handled by two Airbus A319s, two Dassault Falcon 7Xs (purchased in 2018), and leased C-17 Globemaster IIIs through the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability program based in Pápa.As part of the Zrínyi2026 modernization program, Hungary ordered two Embraer KC-390s at the end of 2020: the first was scheduled to arrive in 2023, the second in 2024, to restore its tactical transport capability.
Conclusion
The retirement of the An-26s in June 2020 will mark the end of a nearly half-century of logistics success for Hungary. These aircraft have played a central role in international cooperation, military projection, and humanitarian support. Their departure creates a temporary challenge for its tactical transport capability, which is being filled by purchased, leased, or future aircraft. The arrival of the KC-390s is expected to completely fill this gap.
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