More than 100 Irish soldiers are in Hungary – for Europe’s biggest military exercise.

These images show just some of the 139 members of the Defence Forces who are taking part in the exercise at the Papa Airbase, around 60kms from the western border with Austria.

The exercise, called MILEX 25, is a training programme for the EU Battle Group, of which Ireland forms a part of the 1500-strong body for all of this year.

The battle group, made up of soldiers from several countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and Croatia, is on standby for all of 2025 – ready to move anywhere in the world at short notice to respond to any emergency or humanitarian crisis.

There is heightened expectation now that the Battle Group will be sent to Ukraine to act as peacekeepers in the event of a deal between that country and Russia, but it is on constant alert for any mission throughout the year.

As part of their standby operation, the battlegroup has held a major exercise in Hungary – to test its readiness.

Irish soldiers at the airbase.
Irish soldiers at the airbase.

The Irish component has been tasked with providing security for the battle group during the exercise.

The soldiers were flown out from Baldonnel Aerodrome, the Air Corps’ HQ in south Dublin, earlier this month for the exercise on. German Air Force planes.

Irish and German soldiers get off a German C-130 type military transport aircraft on the tarmac at the air base in Papa near Veszprem, Hungary, on April 10, 2025, during the MILEX 2025, the European Union's largest military exercise to test land operation capabilities of the EU's battle groups.
Irish and German soldiers get off a German C-130 type military transport aircraft on the tarmac at the air base in Papa near Veszprem, Hungary, on April 10, 2025, during the MILEX 2025, the European Union's largest military exercise to test land operation capabilities of the EU's battle groups.

And their gear – including €1 million Mowag armoured cars, were sent by sea and road.

The exercise is taking place all week.

A Defence Forces spokesman said: "The Irish Defence Forces made a substantial and meaningful contribution to MilEx 2025, deploying staff officers, operational planners, logistics specialists, and force protection personnel. Irish troops were embedded within the Force Headquarters (FHQ) at Pápa Air Base and also took part in field operations with the German-led EU Battlegroup 2025 (EUBG25) at the Bakony Training Area.

"Irish personnel played pivotal roles in mission planning, command and control, situational awareness, logistics coordination, communications, and security. Their integration into the multinational command structure highlighted not only Ireland’s professional military capabilities but also its growing role as a reliable and valued contributor to EU security and defence cooperation."

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