IRIA News

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Romania’s Ministry of National Defense has signed a contract with France for the acquisition of Mistral portable short-range/very-short-range air defense systems, finalizing a deal valued at approximately $726 million (€625.6 million).

The agreement was signed between the two defense ministries and covers 231 systems and 934 missiles, along with training services, training ammunition, documentation, a simulator, and full logistical support.

The purchase was originally approved by Romania’s parliament in June 2022 and forms part of the European Joint Acquisition of Mistral System initiative coordinated by France. Other participating countries include Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, and Hungary.

Romanian officials said the deal is included in the Investment Plan for the European Defense Industry drafted under the “Security Action for Europe – SAFE” regulation.

The ministry said the systems will enhance the capabilities of Romania’s Land, Air, and Naval Forces, as well as its Special Operations Forces. The acquisition is also aligned with the broader Security Action for Europe program, an EU initiative designed to strengthen the continent’s defense industrial base through joint procurement.

Features of Mistral System

The Mistral, developed by MBDA, is a multi-platform, fire-and-forget missile system designed to protect troops, military vehicles, and critical infrastructure from aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and hostile surface ships.

The system is operated by two personnel and is known for its mobility and rapid deployment capability, making it suitable for Romania’s expanding air-defense posture.

The latest variant, the Mistral 3, features an interception range of up to 8,000 meters and can engage targets at altitudes of up to 6,000 meters. It is capable of high maneuverability at supersonic speeds and has demonstrated effectiveness in recent trials, including against low-observable drones and surface vessels.

The recent contract mirrors the details of Romania’s previously announced $724 million agreement for the same systems, which included the same quantities of launchers and missiles and emphasized joint procurement under EU initiatives.

European Cooperation

Officials highlighted that the acquisition was carried out within the European Joint Acquisition of Mistral System framework. This multinational initiative aims to streamline procurement, reduce costs, and ensure interoperability across participating EU and NATO states.

France serves as the program coordinator, with Romania emphasizing the importance of strengthening collective defense as drone and missile threats increase along Europe’s eastern border.

The training and logistics package included in the deal is expected to ensure rapid integration into Romanian forces once deliveries begin. Documentation and simulator support will enable local units to maintain operational readiness without relying heavily on foreign training infrastructure.

Russia’s Incursion into Romania

In a latest related development, NATO scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday after two Russian drones crossed into Romanian airspace in what officials described as the deepest and first daytime incursion since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

German Typhoon and Romanian F-16 jets took off in pairs to track the drones. The first drone returned to Ukrainian airspace, while the second crashed in Puiesti, about 70 miles from the border.

Romania’s defense minister, Ionuț Mosteanu, said two German pilots had been ordered to shoot down the drone, but it ultimately went down on its own, possibly after running out of fuel. Examination of the wreckage showed the drone was unarmed.

“It could have been destroyed if all the conditions had been met. The pilots needed to see it, to engage it, to lock it on radar and to be able to fire a missile at it,” Mosteanu said.

Romania’s defense ministry said the first drone was detected at 6:28 am and the second at 7:50 am, triggering shelter orders in three border counties. This marks the 13th breach of Romanian airspace by Russian drones, and the third within a week.

Last week, villages along the border were evacuated after a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas was struck in Ukraine’s port of Izmail across the Danube.

Moldova also reported six drones entering its airspace overnight. One, a delta-wing model marked with a Russian “Z”, landed on a roof in the village of Cuhurestii de Jos. Moldovan officials said it was an unarmed Gerbera decoy drone, likely forced down after running out of fuel.

Earlier this year, 21 similar unarmed drones crossed into Poland, leading NATO to create the Eastern Sentry mission, increasing fighter jet patrols along the alliance’s eastern flank. Officials have warned that intercepting drones with fighter aircraft is costly and carries risks if debris falls over populated areas.

Gen Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said during a visit to Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase that a new drone-defense capability would soon be deployed in the Danube Delta. “We have tested, and it is in the final stages of being employed,” he said, adding that Romanian and allied troops had already been trained to operate it.