Romania Buys French Mistral Air Defense Systems in Over $700M Deal
Romania has finalized a 625-million-euro ($724-million) deal to acquire Mistral very short-range air defense systems from France.
The contract covers 231 Mistral man-portable air defense systems, 934 Mistral missiles, training services and ammunition, documentation, a simulator, and full logistical support.
They will enhance the capabilities of Romania’s Land, Air, and Naval Forces, along with its Special Operations Forces.
Approved by Parliament in June 2022, the purchase is part of the Security Action for Europe program, an EU initiative designed to strengthen the European defense industry through joint public procurement.
“The acquisition is carried out within the European Joint Acquisition of Mistral System initiative, coordinated by France, in which Romania is a party, along with other European states such as Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary,” the ministry stated in a press release.
The Mistral
The MBDA missile is a multi-platform, fire-and-forget system designed to protect troops, strategic targets, and military vehicles from a wide range of threats, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and hostile surface ships.
The latest evolution, the Mistral 3, offers an interception range of up to 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) and can engage targets at altitudes of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
Capable of high maneuverability at supersonic speeds, the missile has recently proven its effectiveness in trials against surface ships and low-observable drones.
