Military Science Review

Threats and deterrence, with special reference to communication in antiquity

Fári László Márton

Nowadays, the knowledge and application of modern threat, deterrence and communication techniques are taken for granted at both the strategic and tactical levels. At the same time, the author believes that it is important and interesting to study the scientific findings that have come to light in these areas from antiquity, as they can provide a wealth of lessons for today.

War Between the Heirs of Rome: the Frankish–Lombard Wars (571–590)

Beck Attila — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

When the Western Roman Empire fall, then the map of Europe was transformed. The former great empires were replaced by smaller kingdoms. These new states were founded by Germanic peoples formerly subjects of the Huns or they were in Roman service. In addition to the organisation of the state, these new powers fought wars against each other from time to time to expand their territory and political influence. The two great powers of this period, the Frankish and the Lombard kingdoms, were repeatedly involved in armed conflicts, they fought with different military concepts.

War as the Continuation of Politics with other Means

Boda Mihály — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The concepts of ’war’ and ’politics’ have been inextricably linked since the advent of the modern era. Even Carl von Clausewitz's most famous definition of war emphasises that war is nothing other than ’the continuation of political contact, its realisation by other means’. Nevertheless, the relationship between the two concepts was the subject of considerable debate at the end of the 20th century. The argument was put forth that the relationship between war and politics was unique to the era in which Clausewitz lived, and that Clausewitz himself did not perceive a different dynamic. After a comprehensive examination of this objection, the subsequent paper delves into the historical evolution of the nexus between war and politics, tracing its trajectory from the advent of warfare to the conclusion of the 20^th century. It ultimately substantiates the proposition that war has consistently been intertwined with politics and that the concept of politics cannot be excluded from its definition.

The Fog of War, Then and Now

Varga Nóra — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of the study is to present the theory of the "fog of war," its background, and subsequently draw a parallel between the characteristics, causes, and circumstances of uncertainty surrounding warfare in the past and present. The central thread of this work is the notion that uncertainty will always remain an inherent part of warfare – eliminating it entirely is scarcely possible. However, it is crucial to recognize whether the very methods and tools we employ to enhance our clarity might, in fact, serve only to thicken that very fog.

Erős Hit, erős akarat!

Gergi Erna

„Strong will overcomes all obstacles, strong will only comes from strong faith.” This is the motto of the Royal Hungarian Jutasi Honvéd Military Academy. Its abbreviated version is still the credo of NCO training today, and hopefully it will remain relevant for the next century. Is there a difference between being a corporal, non-commissioned officer an officer? The answer is certainly not in principle, but there are differences in their duties and responsibilities. This treaste examines the most important aspects of the NCO profession and its moral and ethical characteristics, both past and present. The main responsibilities are outlined.

The Career Motivation Study of 13th Grade Military Cadets Who Completed the Voluntary Territorial Reserve Basic Training

Balogh Zsolt — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The study assessed the career motivation of final-year cadets studying in the Defense sector training program to understand how their military career choices were influenced by their participation in the Voluntary Territorial Reserve service during their student status and the five-week basic military training conducted in September 2024, during the first month of their final academic year. The method of the survey was a questionnaire containing 72 response options, primarily using a four-point Likert scale. The study involved 30 students in the 13th grade enrolled in the Defense sector training program at the Than Károly Technical and Vocational Secondary School of the Budapest Technical Vocational Training Center. The study confirmed the assumption that the basic training enhanced motivation toward a military career. The positive perception of the Armed Forces improved, with 70% of respondents stating that they plan to continue their studies in a military educational institution or with a military scholarship. The questionnaire also included an assessment of the reasons for undertaking military service. In responses characteristic of their generation, greater emphasis was placed on the sense of community, exploring the limits of their abilities, and gaining practical experience, rather than the promised income. Based on the measurement, it can be assumed that undertaking reserve service strengthens the alternative of choosing a military career after graduation. To achieve a broader interpretation of the study’s results, it may be justified to increase the size of the target group and involve more institutions participating in the Military Cadet Program.

Physical Training at the Beginning of Military Science

Cservenyák József — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Military science was a crucial factor even in ancient times, and those commanders or legislator who recognized its importance prepared their warriors in a way that enabled them to win wars. One of its cornerstones was physical education, closely linked to intellectual and mental development, which contributed to the cultivation of military virtues and the stable structure of society. In ancient warfare, physical contact was predominant, placing emphasis on physical combat, weapon handling, and marching in armor. Preparation for these activities was characterized by functionality or lifelong military training.

The Meaning and Conceptual Evolution of Resilience

Szöllősi Annamária — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of the study is to map the range of interpretations of the concept of resilience, which can provide a suitable frame of reference for further research in this area. To achieve this, it draws on a review of the relevant national and international literature in ecology, psychology, philosophy and political science, emphasising the diversity of interpretations of resilience in the selected disciplines. The paper highlights the etymological and semantic differences between the notions of resilience and resistance. Additionally, special attention is given to an overview of the difficulties in defining the concept and to the multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the terminology of resilience.

The Current Challenges of Security and Public Safety the Defence Administrative Context of Their Management

Kondás Kornél — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Safe life, or rather the time spent in public security has been a constant, determining factor for a healthy form of social coexistence since the beginning of time. For this reason, I have decided to write my present study on this topic, in which I pay special attention to some aspects of the concept of security, also content-related issues of the definition and global factors that threaten everyday life. Following the description of security anomalies related to the international situation, I analyse Hungary’s interpretation of security and defence policy, and introduce the description of Hungary’s new national security strategy. Taking public security under scrutiny, the organisational system guaranteeing Hungarian public security is described, the maintenance task of which is one of the obligations of the Hungarian state. The main theme of my work is related to these ideas and I believe that it analyses such a defining issue, the development of which is extremely important for every state.

Doctrine by Necessity

Lóránt Szabolcs — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

This study examines Russia’s 2024 nuclear doctrine modification in the context of its technological advancements and strategic challenges between 2020–2024. Drawing on the Nuclear Scepticism Theory and the Conventional Balance of Forces thesis, the analysis demonstrates that Russia’s doctrinal changes represent a deliberate lowering of the nuclear threshold driven primarily by conventional military considerations rather than technological developments. While Russia emphasises its hypersonic weapons capabilities, the article reveals that doctrinal shifts correlate more closely with conventional military challenges exposed during the Ukraine war than with advances in weapons systems. The findings contribute to our understanding of how states adjust their nuclear strategies in response to conventional military pressures despite possessing sophisticated military technologies.

Crowdfunding on the Battlefield

Farkas Gábor, Fazekas Gábor — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In the first days following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war, content began to appear on online video-sharing platforms showing battlefield operations with drones originally designed for civilian purposes and modified for combat. These videos quickly gained significant attention, prompting an increasing number of influencer units to undertake similar activities. People from various parts of the world started to sympathize with the emergence of this new type of weapon, supporting the teams not only by promoting the videos but also through financial donations to enable the creation of additional content of battlefield operations. This led to a form of symbiosis, satisfying both the financial needs of the fighting units and the demand of an online 'peeping' audience hungry for content. In this study, we examine the emergence of this almost surreal, social media-based form of war financing, the underlying human traits involved, and the competition among combat units for public donations.

„Come on, noble Hungarians!”

Matányi Marcell — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Natio Hungarica and exercitus hungaricus are two concepts of medieval origin, which have changed a lot over the centuries. How did the society of Hungarian Kingdom reflect on the ideas of revolution at the end of the 18th century? How did the Natio Hungarica imagine its own role in the military power of the Habsburg Empire? The French Revolutionary Wars posed new challenges to the organization of armies in all European states. During the Napoleonic Wars, everywhere in Eurpoe, the patriotic territorial defense forces were born as integral parts of the military complement. In my thesis, I try to place the Hungarian Kingdom’s self-defense image and its ideological projection on the conceptual map of the diverse Habsburg Empire.

Officers of the Hungarian Royal 1st Assault Artillery Battalion Command Battery

Mátyás Botond Hunor — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Assault artillery was born due to I World War battle ground experiences. The young branch proved his necessity for support fight of infantry during II World War. Organising of the new branch was started in spring of 1942 in Hungarian Royal Defence Forces, and the troops were accountered with modern Hungarian and German assault guns. First organised assault artillery battalion was the 1. assault artillery battalion leaded by captain József Barankay. This battalion participated in fight against Soviets between April 1944 and February 1945, while they earned a serious fame. This article shows the biographies of officers of command battery of the battalion.

Individual Task Proficiency Training at the Land Forces of the Hungarian Defence Forces

Pászthory Domokos Balázs — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Over the course of the last decade, Hungary has placed great emphasis on the procurement of 21st-century military hardware for its combat and combat support arms. This publication lays the focus on the soldier intended to operate this new military equipment, with the unambiguous intention of posing the question: in what direction is our individual weapon and crew training to evolve in order to ensure success in the multi-domain operations of the future? Have the foundations of the necessary paradigm shift in individual training already been laid, and what may we learn from the methodology of our partner forces?