European Coalition Jointly Procures Mistral 3 Missiles

A European coalition involving France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, and Hungary signed a framework cooperation agreement on June 19 for the joint acquisition of the Mistral 3 ground-based air defense system.

This agreement, managed by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) with support from MBDA, aims to streamline the acquisition process to better meet the requirements of the participating nations' armed forces. Last year, the same countries bought more than 1,000 Mistral air defense missiles worth €500 million.

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, highlighted the significance of this cooperation, stating, “This co-operation is a major step forward in strengthening the defence capabilities of the European Union and its member states, contributing to collective security and sovereignty. This agreement will drive efficiencies and enhance the resilience of the European defence industrial base.”

Following the commitment of these initial five countries, several other states have also expressed strong interest in joining the cooperation, signaling a potential expansion of the partnership.

The Mistral 3 system, currently in service with the French Army and various other users, features infrared imaging seeker and image processing capabilities. It boasts a success rate of over 96%. The missile system is designed to engage targets with low thermal signatures. It weighs less than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and has a length of 2 meters (6.5 feet). It can intercept airborne targets up to 8 kilometers (5 miles), including helicopters, combat jets, drones, transport aircraft, and cruise missiles.