Mezőkövesd Air Base

The closure was a direct result of major geopolitical shifts: the end of the Cold War, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, and the withdrawal of the Soviet Southern Group of Forces from Hungary. The subsequent downsizing and strategic restructuring of the Hungarian Armed Forces rendered the base redundant. The Hungarian government lacked the economic resources and the strategic need to maintain the large number of military airfields inherited from the Soviet era.

The site has been extensively redeveloped and repurposed. The majority of the former runway, taxiways, and apron areas are now covered by a large-scale solar power plant (Mezőkövesd Naperőmű), which is one of the largest in the region. While the basic layout of the airfield is still visible from satellite imagery, its primary function is now renewable energy generation. Many of the original hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) and some auxiliary buildings remain standing in various states of dereliction, with some reportedly being used for private storage or light industrial purposes by local businesses.

Mezőkövesd was a key frontline fighter base for both the Hungarian Air Force and the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Constructed in the early 1950s, it was a vital part of Hungary's air defense network. The base primarily housed the Hungarian Air Force's 36th Fighter Regiment (36. Vadászrepülő Ezred), known by the nickname 'Dongó' (Bumblebee). Throughout its operational history, the base was home to a succession of iconic Soviet-made fighter aircraft, including the MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-21, and later the MiG-23. Its primary mission was to provide air defense for Hungary and protect the southern flank of the Warsaw Pact, making it a strategically important military asset for decades.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The permanent and extensive installation of the solar farm on the primary operational surfaces (the runway and taxiways) makes any future aviation use economically and logistically unfeasible. The cost of removing the solar infrastructure and restoring the airfield to operational standards would be prohibitive. The site's future is firmly established in energy production and potentially further light industrial development on the remaining unused parcels.