Hungary to help protect Slovenia air space BUDAPEST, Hungary, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The air force of Hungary will join Italy in protecting Slovenia's air space under an agreement signed late last week. Slovenia, once part of the former Yugoslavia, joined NATO in 2004 and opted for allied protection of its air space rather than purchasing aircraft. The Hungarian air force flies fourth-generation Gripen fighters, which are made by Saab of Sweden. The fighters are single-engine multi-role aircraft with a maximum speed of 1,312 miles per hour at altitude and a combat radius of 500 miles. Hungarian Defense Minister Csaba Hende said his country's aircraft are suitable for combating international terrorism and averting the threat of hijacked civilian aircraft used as weapons. Hungary and Slovenia agreed in 1996 to cooperate in airspace control. Unarmed military aircraft have been allowed to enter each other's airspace if a permit is requested a week in advance and notification about the actual flight is sent 24 hours in advance. These restrictions will be lifted once the new agreement is ratified.