Integration as a military necessity for Alliance capabilities
Multinational AMD capability development for small and medium-sized European countries based on Hungary as a case study
Keywords:
Air and Missile Defence, Ground-based air defence, Multinational Cooperation, Capability Development, Hungarian Defence Forces
Abstract
Multinational cooperation is militarily indispensable for small and medium-sized European states in the field of air and missile defence, but it only becomes effective when political constraints, the degree of integration and capability development are systematically harmonised. The article examines the tension between national political control and the operational effectiveness of multinational ground-based air defence. Analysis is conducted on how selective and functional integration along the lines of sensors, command and control and training and exercise enable military-relevant AMD capabilities without completely giving up national authority over the use of military force.
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Strategic Dossier, 3 September 2025. https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/files/publications---free-files/strategic-dossier/pds-2025/chapters/iiss_progress-and-shortfalls-in-europes-defence_2025_ch-3_integrated-air-and-missile-defence.pdf (accessed 25 January 2026)
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Lawrence Tony, Zandee Dick, Gasper Felix 2025: Defending Europe’s Skies – Challenges and prospects. International Centre for Defence and Security, Tallin, Estonia. Policy Paper, May 2025.
Loss, Rafael 2024: A Roof Over Europe? Ground-Based Air Defence After the Zeitenwende. Federal Academy for Security Policy, Security Policy Working Paper. (3)2024. https://www.baks.bund.de/en/working-papers/2024/a-roof-over-europe-ground-based-air-defence-after-the-zeitenwende (accessed 5 January 2026)
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Passbach, Daniel 2024: National and International Perspectives of the Hungarian Ground-Based Air Defence Forces (2): Status Quo, Development Plans, Operational Performance and Remaining Capability Gaps. AARMS – Academic and Applied Research in Military and Public Management Science. Budapest, 23(2), 51–61. Online: https://doi.org/10.32565/aarms.2024.2.4
Passbach, Daniel 2026 (forthcoming): Multinational Cooperation Formats for Air and Missile Defence: Comparative Models and Implications for European states. Submitted to Hadtudomány (under review).
Pronk, Berry 2020: The Importance of Integrated Air and Missile Defence Training. Joint Air Power Competence Centre Journal 30, 2020: 78-84.
Pronk, Berry 2023: NATO IAMD Education and Training – Back to the New Normal. Joint Air Power Competence Centre Journal 35, 2023: 32-38.
Van Hooft, Paul, Boswinkel, Lotje 2021: Surviving the Deadly Skies – Integrated Air and Missile Defence 2021-2035. The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. November 2021. Surviving the Deadly Skies: Integrated Air and Missile Defence 2021-2035 - HCSS (accessed 11 January 2026)
Witney, Nick 2023: Spirit of ambition: The Ukraine war and European defence integration. European Council on Foreign Relations. 26 July 2023. https://ecfr.eu/article/spirit-of-ambition-the-ukraine-war-and-european-defence-integration/ (accessed 3 January 2026)
Published
2026-09-28
Section
Military art
Copyright (c) 2026 Hungarian Military Science
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
