Romania is buying 231 Mistral short-range anti-aircraft systems from France, as well as over 900 missiles, in exchange for 625 million euros.
The agreement includes 231 systems, 934 missiles, training services, training ammunition, documentation, a simulator, and logistical support. The Ministry of Defense has not provided a delivery schedule.
The purchase is part of a European initiative coordinated by France, which also includes Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, and Hungary.
Designed for low-altitude air defense, these weapons are mainly used to protect troops, strategic targets and military vehicles against helicopters, low-flying aircraft or drones.
The missiles have a range of 6–8 kilometers and are designed to strike helicopters and aircraft flying at relatively low altitudes. The systems are equipped with an infrared seeker and advanced image‑processing capabilities. They are also used by the Ukrainian Army against Russian targets.
The Mistral missiles are among the best‑known MANPADS (Man‑Portable Air‑Defense Systems) produced in Europe.The Mistral system was developed in France in the 1980s by the industrial consortium that today forms MBDA, one of the world’s largest missile manufacturers. The first operational version, Mistral 1, entered service with the French Army at the end of the decade. The missile later evolved into upgraded variants with improved sensors and enhanced resistance to countermeasures, the most recent version being the Mistral 3, capable of engaging smaller and faster targets, including drones.
Mistral is widely exported and is in the inventories of more than 25 countries. Its users include France, NATO members such as Spain, Hungary, Norway, and Greece, as well as several Middle Eastern and African states. The system is used in multiple configurations: as a portable MANPADS launcher operated by two people, mounted on light armored vehicles, installed on ships in close‑range naval defense setups, and integrated into air‑defense systems with dedicated sensors and radars.
