Romania Plans to Purchase 200 Mistral 3 MANPADS from MBDA

Romania is set to buy 200 Mistral 3 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) as part of a joint European procurement initiative led by France.

The deal was reported by Defence Romania.

Alongside the launchers, Romania will acquire more than 1,000 missiles, significantly boosting the country’s short-range air defense capabilities.

The total value of the contract is estimated at €626 million and includes system maintenance and logistical support.

The procurement is being conducted under the EDIRPA program — a new EU mechanism facilitating joint arms purchases among member states. Besides Romania, the initiative includes Belgium, Estonia, Cyprus, Hungary and France.

The Mistral 3 is one of the most advanced short-range air defense systems in Europe. It can engage targets such as aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles at distances up to 7.5 kilometers, with a hit probability of up to 97%.

The third-generation missile has also demonstrated effectiveness against surface targets, including small boats.

Due to rising demand, French defense manufacturer MBDA plans to increase production to 40 systems per month by 2026, aiming to reduce delivery times for participating countries.

Estonia, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and several other countries have also ordered the third-generation Mistral systems.

Spain, meanwhile, is launching a modernization program for its Mistral short-range air defense platforms.