Mistral (missile) explained

Mistral
Origin:France
Type:SHORAD
Is Explosive:yes
Is Missile:yes
Service:1989–present
Used By:See Operators
Wars:Second Congo War
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Designer:Matra Defence (now merged into MBDA)
Design Date:1974 onwards
Manufacturer:MBDA France
Weight:19.7 kg [1]
Length:
  • 1.86 m
  • 1.88m (including initial booster)
Diameter:90 mm
Crew:1
Ceiling:6 km
Range:8 km (Mistral 3)[2]
Sights:Optical sight
Filling:High Explosive with high density tungsten balls
Filling Weight:2.95 kg
Detonation:Laser proximity or impact triggered
Engine:Solid Rocket Motor, 2-stage
Speed:930 m/s, approx. Mach 2.71 (high supersonic)[3]
Guidance:Infrared homing

The Missile Transportable Anti-aérien Léger (English: Transportable lightweight anti-air missile), commonly called Mistral, is a French infrared homing short range air defense system manufactured by MBDA France (formerly by Matra Defence and then Matra BAe Dynamics). Based on the French SATCP (Sol-Air à Très Courte Portée), the development of the portable system later to become the Mistral began in 1974. The first version of the system was introduced in 1988 (S1), the second in 1997 (Mistral 2), and the third in 2018 (Mistral 3).

Description

Mistral is a short-range air defence (SHORAD) missile system that can be used from vehicles, surface ships, and helicopters, as well as in a portable configuration. When used in the MANPADS role the "Mistral" missile is transported in a transport and launch container (MPC) together with "friend or foe" interrogator, power source and tripod with its sighting devices. They are then to be operated by a pair of crew as commander and the shooter. There are also launch units that allow the missile to be fired from armoured vehicles, ships or helicopters (such as the Aérospatiale Gazelle, Denel Rooivalk, or Eurocopter Tiger). To defeat flares ejected from the rear of a targeted aircraft, proportional navigation using a gyro as a reference is adopted for Mistral, instead of the pursuit method in earlier IR-guided MANPADS. To further enhance the ECCM capability, the seeker of Mistral has a very narrow field of view to reject decoys and interference, the seeker can tilt in the range of +/− 38 degrees. On the launcher, the missile runs up the gyro in 2 seconds, and total reaction time is 5 seconds. The all-aspect two-color (2–4 and 3–5 μm) cooled IR-seeker of Mistral is developed by SAT (Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications), and the missile adopts both laser proximity and impact fuzes.

The MCP (Mistral Coordination Post) was first shown at the 1991 Paris Air Show fitted with SHORAR (Short-range Anti-aircraft Defence Radar) from Oerlikon Contraves. The MCP is designed to be used with a portable Mistral system, ATLAS, ALBI or MPCV systems and also used as part of MBDA Mistral missile Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems for air defense of military units and important facilities.

The MCP provides target designation and fire control for eleven Mistral firing unit, ALBI, ATLAS or MPCV air defence systems. The MCP is mounted on a truck chassis or any other off-road chassis. The newer version of MCP are called the IMCP or Improved Missile Control Post.[4]

A close-in weapon system based on Mistral is a six-missile version called Sadral, with a stabilized rapid-reload launcher that is fully automated. A CSEE developed fire control director is integrated to the launcher, consisted of TV camera and FLIR. Image produced by both directors appear on the screen in the operator console below deck, and the missiles are locked onto the target before being launched. A fully loaded Sadral launcher weighs 1080 kg, and the operator console weighs 280 kg. A two-missile unit installed on ships is called Simbad, and a newly launched four-missile version is called Tetral. An evolution of the Simbad is now proposed: Simbad RC. Both Tetral and Simbad RC are remote controlled from the ship's deck while the original Simbad is manually operated with a simple optical sight.[5]

History

Mistral missiles used by the Rwandan forces in the Second Congo War shot down a Zimbabwean Air Force BAE Hawk fighter on 23 March 1999.[6]

Two automated SADRAL launchers (re-cycled from the retiring s) and each equipped with six Mistral Mk 3 surface-to-air missiles were fitted to three s of the French Navy in the 2021–2023 period. The system replaced the previous Crotale system in order to provide a modernized defence against sea-skimming targets.[7] [8] The Mistral Mk 3 carries an infrared imaging seeker and possesses advanced image processing capabilities. This allows it to engage low thermal signature targets such as: UAVs, turbojet-powered missiles and fast craft at long range, while reportedly offering resistance to countermeasures.[9] The system is also carried on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle,[10] the s[11] and (SIMBAD-RC) is being installed on the French Navy's Jacques Chevallier-class support ships.[12]

Two Sadral turrets for Mistral were also installed on the raised deck on each side of the helicopter hangar of the former s.[13] Space for the SADRAL/Mistral system is also provided for on the French s but, as of 2021, has not been installed on those vessels.

Norway sent 100 Mistral systems to Ukraine shortly after the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14]

In response to the need for faster weapon shipments as a result of the war, in early 2023 MBDA started accelerating production of the Mistral 3 from 20 to 30 missiles per month,[15] and to 40 per month by late 2023.[16]

Variants

The Mistral entered production in 1989 and is now deployed in various forms by 37 armed forces of 25 countries including Austria, the Brazilian Marine Corps, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Venezuela.Norway donated their complete stock of Mistral missiles in 2022 to Ukraine.[17]

Land system

Naval system

Airborne system

Submarine air defence system

Operators

Current operators

Future operators

Former operators

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MISTRAL MANPADS | Ground Based Air Defence .
  2. Web site: MISTRAL MANPADS . 27 August 2023.
  3. Web site: 2019 Mistral MANPADS datasheet. MBDA. PDF. 11 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211108232400/https://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=17900. 2021-11-08. live.
  4. Web site: MCP / IMCP Ground Based Air Defence. 2021-09-21. MBDA. en-US.
  5. Web site: SIMBAD-RC | Maritime Superiority, MISTRAL SOLUTION. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043429/https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/simbad-rc/. 2019-03-06. 2019-03-04.
  6. Web site: Cooper . Tom. Zaire/DR.Congo 1980-2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20130125093329/http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=246&Itemid=47. 25 January 2013. ACIG.org . 22 January 2013.
  7. Web site: French Navy Lafayette Class Frigates Crotale SAM Systems May be Replaced with SADRAL. 26 September 2016 .
  8. Web site: Sadral.
  9. Web site: MBDA's Mistral 3 missile scores a double success | Press Release.
  10. Web site: Charles de Gaulle Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier .
  11. Web site: Mistral Class – Amphibious Assault Ships .
  12. Web site: Les bâtiments ravitailleurs de forces seront équipés de Simbad-RC. 7 January 2022.
  13. Web site: Cassard Class - Naval Technology.
  14. Web site: Norway sends air defense systems to Ukraine . The News & Observer . Associated Press . 20 April 2022.
  15. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2023-03-17/mbda-accelerates-missile-production-response-ukraine-war MBDA Accelerates Missile Production in Response to Ukraine War
  16. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/10/16/french-firms-to-triple-155mm-ammo-production-boost-weapons-output/ French firms to triple 155mm ammo production, boost weapons output
  17. News: Norway sends air defence systems to Ukraine. The Washington Post. 2022-04-20.
  18. Janes International Defence Review Vol 45 France revives hard-kill submarine defences, page XIV
  19. Web site: Botswana acquired 300 million euros of French weaponry in 2016. Defence Web. 3 August 2017. https://archive.today/20170803133148/http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48792:botswana-acquired-300-million-euros-of-french-weaponry-in-2016&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105. 3 August 2017. 3 August 2017.
  20. Web site: 2022-12-09 . Jutarnji list - Šoping od 70 milijuna eura: Hrvatska kupuje moćni raketni sustav protuzračne obrane! . 2022-12-12 . www.jutarnji.hr . hr-hr.
  21. Web site: Cyprus signs €240 mln French missiles contract . FinancialMirror . 7 February 2020 . 13 April 2022.
  22. Web site: Õhutõrjepataljon - Kaitsevägi. Eesti. Kaitsevägi. www.mil.ee. 2014-11-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015232331/http://www.mil.ee/et/kaitsevagi/maavagi/1-jalavaebrigaad/ohutorjepataljon. 2014-10-15. live.
  23. https://mags.shephardmedia.com/HB-samples-2018/AAD5-webmag.pdf
  24. Web site: French air defense systems are already in Georgia . 1TV . 13 April 2022.
  25. Web site: MBDA to upgrade Mistral air defense missile systems of Hungary with Matis optronic aiming sight 2208 . armyrecognition . 13 April 2022.
  26. Web site: SULTANATE OF OMAN AWARDED MBDA WITH A NEW CONTRACT . MBDA . 13 April 2022.
  27. Web site: Saballa . Joe . Philippine Navy Receives Mistral 3 Surface-to-Air Missiles . TheDefensePost . 11 October 2021 . 13 April 2022.
  28. Web site: SERBIA SIGNS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF MISTRAL 3 SHORT-RANGE AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS WITH MBDA . MBDA . 13 April 2022.
  29. Web site: Mistral Anti-Aircraft Missile . 13 April 2022.
  30. Web site: Merchet . Jean-Dominique . La France a formé des soldats ukrainiens juste avant l'invasion russe . L'Opinion . 12 April 2022 . 13 April 2022.
  31. Web site: Norway provides an air defense system to Ukraine. Regjeringen.no . 20 April 2022 . 20 April 2022.
  32. News: 2023-10-23 . France announces sale of weapons to Armenia . 2024-02-14 . Le Monde.fr . en.
  33. Web site: Fiorenza . Nicholas . Belgium phases out Mistral . IHS Jane's 360 . 16 May 2017 . https://archive.today/20170516223546/http://www.janes.com/article/70438/belgium-phases-out-mistral . 16 May 2017 . Brussels . 16 May 2017 . dead .
  34. Web site: National .