Norwegian Ministry of Defence reveals Mistral manportable surface-to-air missile shipment to Ukraine. The Norwegian government has therefore decided to donate Mistral air defense to Ukraine, says Norwegian Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram. The system will be of great benefit to Ukraine, says the Minister of Defence. The Norwegian government now donates approximately 100 Mistral air defense missiles and a number of launchers. The government has previously provided 4 000 M72 light anti-armour weapons as well as helmets and flak jackets to Ukraine.
The Mistral air defense system is being used on Navy minesweepers and corvettes. The system was slated to be phased out within few years. Hence, the impact of Norway’s readiness will not be significantly reduced by providing the system to Ukraine. The missile is going to be phased out of the Norwegian Armed Forces, but it is still a modern and effective weapon that will be of great use to Ukraine. The system was slated to be phased out within few years. Hence, the impact of Norway’s readiness will not be significantly reduced by providing the system to Ukraine. Other countries have also donated similar systems, says the Minister of Defence.
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. Mistral is a French infrared homing MANPADS manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA (formerly by Matra Defence and then 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).
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. 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
