Romania has concluded a 625-million-euro ($724 million) agreement to purchase Mistral very short-range air defense systems from France.
The contract includes 231 Mistral man-portable launchers, 934 missiles, ammunition, training modules, documentation, a simulator, and complete logistical support. The systems will strengthen the operational capabilities of Romania’s Land, Air, and Naval Forces as well as Special Operations units.
Originally approved by Parliament in June 2022, the procurement falls under the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative, which aims to reinforce the European defense industry through joint public procurement.
The MBDA-built Mistral is a fire-and-forget, multi-platform missile designed to safeguard forces and critical assets from a variety of threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, and hostile surface vessels.
The latest version, the Mistral 3, provides engagement ranges up to 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) and altitudes up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet), with high agility at supersonic speeds. Recent testing has demonstrated strong performance against low-visibility drones and surface vessels.
