MBDA Mistral

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MBDA Mistral

France’s infrared man-portable air-defence missile

The MBDA Mistral is a French short-range man-portable air-defence missile made by MBDA France, in service since 1989. It has a range of about 6 km and speed above Mach 2.5, and is used by more than 40 countries.

France|MBDA France
6 kmRangeMach 2.5+Missile Speed3 kgWarhead1.86 mLength19.7 kgWeightIn ProductionStatus

What Is the MBDA Mistral? Overview, History and Development

The Mistral was developed by Matra, now MBDA France, with a first flight in 1988 and French service from 1989. It is an infrared fire-and-forget missile of 90 mm diameter, about 19.7 kg and 1.86 m, with a portable tripod system of roughly 56 kg. Range is about 6 km, up to 6.5 km for Mistral 3, with a ceiling of about 3,000 m and a speed above Mach 2.5. The 3 kg warhead has laser proximity and impact fuzes. Mistral 2 appeared in the 2000s, and Mistral 3 around 2017 with a new seeker.

More than 20,000 missiles have been produced and over 40 countries operate it, as commonly cited by MBDA. Operators include France, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile and Cyprus, though some may have retired or upgraded. Mounts include the Simbad, Sadral and Tetral at sea, ATLAS and Aspic on vehicles and ATAM on helicopters. Ukrainian use has been reported but not confirmed. Rivals include Stinger, RBS 70, Igla and Starstreak.

MBDA Mistral
Photo: Paolo Bovo / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

MBDA Mistral Specifications: Range, Altitude, Missiles and Radar

ManufacturerMBDA France
CountryFrance
Entered Service1989
StatusIn Production
First Flight1988
ManufacturerMBDA France
Range6 km
Max Altitude3,000 m
Missile SpeedMach 2.5+
Warhead3 kg
Length1.86 m
Weight19.7 kg
Caliber90 mm
GuidanceIR

MBDA Mistral Variants and Versions Compared

Mistral 1

Mistral 1 is the original infrared missile that entered French service in 1989.

Mistral 2

Mistral 2 is the improved version that appeared in the 2000s.

Mistral 3

Mistral 3 is the version around 2017 with a new seeker and range up to 6.5 km.

Which Countries Use the MBDA Mistral? Operators and Users

FranceBelgiumEstoniaFinlandHungaryIrelandNorwaySpainUAEOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaSingaporeIndonesiaMalaysiaBrazilChileCyprus

MBDA Mistral FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions

What is the range of the Mistral missile?

The Mistral missile has a range of about 6 km, with Mistral 3 reaching up to 6.5 km. Its engagement ceiling is about 3,000 m.

How fast is the Mistral missile?

The Mistral missile flies at more than Mach 2.5. It weighs about 19.7 kg and carries a 3 kg warhead with laser proximity and impact fuzes.

Which countries use the Mistral missile?

More than 40 countries use the Mistral, including France, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Spain, Singapore, Brazil and Chile. Gulf operators are the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The list is as commonly cited and some may have retired it.

Mistral vs Stinger: which is better?

The Mistral reaches about 6 km at Mach 2.5 and can be launched from vehicles, ships and helicopters, while the FIM-92 Stinger is a US system of similar class. Both are infrared man-portable missiles with different seekers.

Does the Mistral use radar?

No, the Mistral uses a passive infrared seeker, not radar. The target is therefore not warned by radar emissions at launch.

Who makes the Mistral missile?

The Mistral missile is made by MBDA France, having been developed by Matra. It entered French service in 1989.