Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Europe advances on the joint acquisition of Mistral 3

Defence

Europe advances on the joint acquisition of Mistral 3

France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary signed a framework cooperation arrangement yesterday for the joint acquisition of the Mistral 3 ground-based air defence system.

Image courtesy MBDA / credit DGA

Managed by the DGA with MBDA support, the arrangement gives partner nations access to an improved acquisition process that meets armed forces’ requirements. Following in the steps of the first five countries, several other states have also indicated their strong interest in this cooperation.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, declared: “This cooperation is a major step forward in strengthening the defence capabilities of the European Union and its member states, contributing to collective security and sovereignty.

"This agreement will drive efficiencies and enhance the resilience of the European defence industrial base.”

Advertisement
ODU RT

Mistral 3, which is currently in service with the French Army and many other users, is an air defence missile that has an infrared imaging seeker and advanced image processing capabilities.

With an over 96% success rate and the best reliability of all current ground-launched short-range air defence systems, it has the ability to engage targets with low thermal signatures, such as drones, turbojet-powered missiles and fast attack craft from long distances.

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
Anotec achieves AS9100 certification

Aerospace Defence

Anotec achieves AS9100 certification

20 April 2026

Surface coating specialist Anotec has enhanced its position in the aerospace and defence sectors by achieving the AS9100 certification.

Securitas appoints Alan Rae as Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems

Defence Security

Securitas appoints Alan Rae as Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems

20 April 2026

Securitas UK has announced the appointment of Alan Rae to the newly created and expanded role of Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems.

Vision Engineering appoints Harry Curtis as Technical Director

Aerospace Defence

Vision Engineering appoints Harry Curtis as Technical Director

17 April 2026

Woking headquartered Vision Engineering Group, provider of ergonomic microscopy and metrology solutions, has announced the appointment of Harry Curtis to the position of Technical Director, effective 1st April 2026.

Drone swarms central to AWE26

Defence Events

Drone swarms central to AWE26

17 April 2026

Drones have been at the centre of this year's Army Warfighting Experiment 2026, which each year brings together soldiers, scientists, industry and universities, to test new military technology.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Dstl assesses robotic systems in hazardous incident recovery trial

Defence

Dstl assesses robotic systems in hazardous incident recovery trial

17 April 2026

In a ‘real life’ scenario played out in an empty shopping unit, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has tested the ability of robotic and autonomous systems to navigate through a building and detect, sample and remediate (clean) a contaminated environment.

QinetiQ pays aerial tribute to iconic Spitfire

Defence Events

QinetiQ pays aerial tribute to iconic Spitfire

17 April 2026

The QinetiQ operated ETPS test pilot school based at MoD Boscombe Down has taken part in the historic Spitfire90 commemorative tour, as the only civilian-registered participants in the nine-day national flight schedule.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner