Romania has completed a 625-million-euro ($724 million) contract to procure Mistral very short-range air defense systems from France, marking a major step in its wider military modernization drive. The agreement includes 231 Mistral man-portable air defense launchers, 934 missiles, training packages, ammunition, operational documentation, a simulation system, and full logistical support. These assets will reinforce the air defense capabilities of Romania’s Land, Air, and Naval Forces, as well as its Special Operations Forces, enabling them to counter a broader range of aerial threats more effectively. The acquisition was approved by the Romanian Parliament in June 2022 under the Security Action for Europe initiative—an EU program aimed at strengthening Europe’s defense industry by encouraging joint procurement across member states. Through this framework, Romania’s purchase supports both national defense priorities and EU-wide efforts to enhance collective security and industrial resilience. The MBDA-built Mistral missile is a versatile, fire-and-forget system deployable across multiple platforms and designed to protect troops, critical sites, and military vehicles from aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and even hostile surface vessels. Its newest variant, the Mistral 3, offers a maximum interception range of roughly 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) and can strike targets flying as high as 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). With supersonic speed, high agility, and an advanced seeker, the missile has demonstrated strong performance in recent tests against low-observable drones and naval targets, further validating its operational value for Romania’s defense forces.
