EU approves joint procurement of Mistral 3 air defence missiles led by France

This initiative falls under the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), designed to boost European defence industry cooperation through joint acquisitions. The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) will oversee the acquisition process, securing a total of 1,500 Mistral 3 missiles from the company MBDA.

The approval highlights the quality and strategic importance of the project in strengthening the air defence and missile systems of participating member states. It reflects a shared commitment among European countries to collaborate on addressing growing security challenges in the airspace domain.

By pooling their procurement requirements, the participating nations aim to enhance the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the European defence industrial and technological base. This cooperative approach also provides long-term visibility to defence manufacturers, strengthening their operational robustness.

A cooperation framework agreement for the project was signed on 19 June 2024, during the Eurosatory defence and security exhibition. The arrangement marks a significant step in fostering European defence integration and efficiency.

The Mistral 3 is a highly versatile short-range surface-to-air missile equipped with a “fire-and-forget” system. It boasts exceptional speed and manoeuvrability, making it effective against a wide range of targets, including fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions.

With a length of less than two metres and a weight of under 20 kilograms, the Mistral 3 is easily operable and highly portable. These features make it a critical asset in enhancing the defence capabilities of the participating European nations.