| Mistral | |
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Mistral mounted on a truck plateform of the 54th Artillery Regiment |
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| Type | Manportable surface-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1988 – Present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | MBDA |
| Designed | 1974 |
| Manufacturer | MBDA |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 1.86 m |
| Diameter | 90 mm |
| Crew | 1 |
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| Effective range | 5.3 km (effective against helicopters at up to 4 km) |
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead weight | 2.95 kg |
| Detonation mechanism |
Laser proximity or impact triggered |
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| Engine | Solid Rocket Motor |
| Speed | 800 m/s, approx. Mach 2.6 (high supersonic) |
| Guidance system |
Infrared homing |
Mistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile 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) and 1997 for the second version (M2).
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The basic Mistral missile is used with a man-portable launch unit. 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).
The two-missile unit installed on ships is called Simbad. The six-missile version is the Sadral. The 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.
Mistral entered series production in 1989 and is now deployed by 37 armed forces of 25 countries (eight countries in Europe, eight in the Asia-Pacific, five in South America, three in the Middle East), including Austria, Belgium, the Brazilian Marine Corps, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela.
Over 16,000 missiles have been sold/ordered. Recently, industrial sources said the Royal Thai Navy has placed an order on several units of Sadral/Mistral air defence systems. The deal is said to be worth €45.7 million – €76.2 million. The systems are to be equipped on the Navy’s two Naresuan class frigates and two newly built Pattani class OPVs (Offshore Patrol Vessel).
The Mistral's operational use encompasses the firing of more than 2,000 missiles, with a success rate of 95% during training.
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