Mistral
Mistral missile on display
Type	Manportable surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1988–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Second Congo War
Production history
Designer	MBDA
Designed	1974
Manufacturer	MBDA
Specifications
Length	1.86 m
Diameter	90 mm
Crew	1
Effective firing range	up to 6 km
Warhead	High Explosive with high density tungsten balls
Warhead weight	2.95 kg
Detonation mechanism	Laser proximity or impact triggered
Engine	Solid Rocket Motor
Maximum speed	800 m/s, approx. Mach 2.6 (high supersonic)
Guidance system	Infrared homing

Mistral is an infrared homing MANPADS manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA missile systems (formerly by Matra BAe Dynamics). Based on the French SATCP (Sol-Air à Très Courte Portée), the portable missile later to become the Mistral began development in 1974. It was initially deployed in 1988 for the first version (S1), 1997 for the second version (M2), and 2019 for the third version (M3).

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 it's 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 the flares ejected from the rear of the 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Venezuela.

• MANPADS: Basic Mistral missile used with a man-portable launch unit, manually operated.
• ALAMO: Mistral missile mount with single missile, used on light vehicles, manually operated.
• ALBI: Mounting system with 2 Mistral missiles. It is used on wheeled, or lightly armored vehicles, manually operated.
• ATLAS: Improved ground or vehicle based mount with 2 Mistral missiles, manually operated.
• ATLAS RC: Further development of ATLAS system, remotely operated.
• ASPIC: Mounting for light vehicle with 4 Mistral missiles, remotely operated.
• MPCV: Turret for light vehicle with 4 Mistral missiles and single cannon or heavy machinegun, automatic fire control with EO system.
• PAMELA: Mistral missile mount with single missile, used on VLRA or TRM 2000 trucks, manually operated.
• SANTAL: Turret for armored vehicles with 6 Mistral missiles, automatic fire control with search radar.

• SIMBAD: Mistral missile mount system with 2 missiles, manually operated.
• SIMBAD RC: Development of regular SIMBAD system, remotely operated.
• TETRAL: Mounting system with 4 Mistral missiles, automatic fire control with FCR or EO system.
• SADRAL: Mount with 6 Mistral missiles, automatic fire control with FCR or EO system.
• SIGMA: Combination of 25 or 30mm autocannon and 3 Mistral missiles, automatic fire control with FCR or EO system.
• SAKO M85 Mistral: Naval turret with 6 Mistral missiles based on Finland SAKO 23 M85, remotely operated.

• ATAM: Helicopter version used as an air-to-air weapon with 2 missiles on each module.

• On 26 September 2012 DCNS at the company's Le Mourillon plant announced plans to design and build a submarine canister-based air defence weapon based on the Mistral. The concept is similar to the British Submarine Launched Airflight Missile developed by Vickers in the 1970s and tested on HMS Aeneas and three boats of the Gal-class.^[3]

• 
  Mistral MANPADS
• 
  PAMELA system
• 
  ALAMO system
• 
  ASPIC system
• 
  MPCV system
• 
  SIMBAD system
• 
  SIMBAD RC system
• 
  SADRAL system
• 
  TETRAL system
• 
  SAKO M85 Mistral system
• 
  ATAM system

Mistral missiles used by the Rwandan forces in the Second Congo War shot down a Zimbabwean Air Force BAE Hawk fighter on March 23, 1999.^[4]

Two automated SADRAL launchers (re-cycled from the retiring Georges Leygues class frigates) and each equipped with 6x Mistral Mk 3 surface to air missiles are to be fitted to three La Fayette-class frigates of the French Navy in the 2021-23 period. The system replaces the previous Crotale SAM system in order to provide a modernized defence against sea-skimming targets.^[5][6] 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.^[7]

Two Sadral turrets for Mistral were also installed on the raised deck on each side of the helicopter hangar of the Cassard-class frigates.^[8] Space for the SADRAL/Mistral system is also provided for on the French Horizon-class frigates but, as of 2021, has not been installed on those vessels.

 Austria

 Botswana^[9]

 Brazil

 Brunei

 Chile

 Cyprus

 Colombia

 Ecuador

 Estonia^[10]

 Finland

 France^[11]

 Georgia

 Hungary

 Indonesia

 India Used as air to air missile's for HAL LCH , HAL Rudra Attack Helicopter

 Kenya

 Lebanon

 Morocco

 Norway

 Oman

 Pakistan

 Philippines

 Rwanda

 Serbia

 Singapore

 Republic of Korea First contract consists 406 launchers and 2,760 missiles.

 Spain

 Thailand

 Venezuela

 Belgium^[12]

 New Zealand (not listed among current New Zealand Army equipment by IISS Military Balance 2017)

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• RBS 70
• QW-3

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mistral missiles.

• Video of a Mistral missile being fired
• MBDA MISTRAL family