Romania Sign €625 Million Deal with France for Advanced Mistral 3 Air-Defence Systems

 On 25 November 2025, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence (MApN) signed a contract with its French counterpart under which France will supply Romania with 231 portable Mistral 3 man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) along with 934 missiles. The agreement was concluded by the General Directorates for Armaments of both ministries.

The total contract value is €625,591,000, excluding VAT. Beyond launchers and missiles, the package includes training services, training ammunition, necessary technical documentation, a simulator for operator training, and logistic support.

The procurement is part of the broader European Joint Acquisition of Mistral System, coordinated by France. Romania joins several other European Union nations in this collective acquisition, including Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, and Hungary.

Officials say the acquisition is included in the national Investment Plan for the European Defence Industry, prepared under the Security Action for Europe – SAFE framework. The plan seeks to strengthen European defence capabilities and support the continental defence industry.

The Romanian Parliament had initially approved the MANPAD acquisition in June 2022. At that time, the programme had been estimated at roughly €700 million (excluding VAT), before negotiations and the joint procurement effort trimmed the final cost.

Strategic context: why Romania is buying Mistral 3

The Mistral 3 missile system is widely regarded as one of the most capable very short-range air-defence (VSHORAD) solutions currently available in Europe. With an infrared imaging seeker and advanced image-processing guidance, it operates on a “fire-and-forget” principle. The system is designed to engage a broad variety of aerial threats — ranging from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to fast jets, drones, cruise missiles, and even low-signature targets like loitering munitions.

According to publicly available specifications, Mistral 3 can engage targets at ranges up to 6.5–8 km and ceiling altitudes appropriate for many low-to-medium altitude threats. The missile carries a roughly 3-kilogram high-explosive warhead and is effective day or night, under diverse weather conditions, and even in electronically contested environments.

For Romania — a NATO and EU member sharing a long land border (approximately 650 km) with Ukraine — the timing of this procurement carries obvious strategic weight. Increasing aerial threats, including drone incursions from conflict zones, have raised concerns about national airspace security. The addition of Mistral 3 MANPADS will significantly bolster the country’s short-range air defence umbrella.

European cooperation and funding support

The acquisition is not solely a bilateral purchase but part of a collective European defence procurement initiative. Under the European Joint Acquisition of Mistral System, several EU member states are jointly ordering Mistral 3 systems to standardise short-range air-defence capabilities across the bloc. This approach aims to deliver better pricing, interoperability, and a reinforced European defence-industrial base.

Support from the European Commission — via the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement (EDIRPA) instrument — and the SAFE regulation framework played a role in enabling this deal. The backing reduces financial pressure on member states and encourages coordinated defence investment across Europe.

Romanian officials have publicly expressed that using SAFE and EDIRPA tools aligns with the country’s strategic priorities, embedding military modernisation within a broader European defence-industrial strategy.

What remains unannounced — delivery schedule and deployment timeline

Despite the formal signing and the full package agreement, as of now, neither side has publicly disclosed a detailed delivery schedule for the purchased Mistral systems. Media reports note that the timeline for actual delivery “has not been specified.”

Similarly, there has been no official statement on when the Romanian Armed Forces will be able to induct and deploy the new systems operationally. Whether the systems will be delivered in a single batch or phased over multiple installments remains unclear.

Analysts expect that logistics, training and simulator delivery may precede missile deliveries — but until formal announcements are made, any date remains speculative.

Significance and regional implications

This acquisition marks one of Romania’s most significant short-range air-defence investments in recent years. By acquiring modern MANPADS on par with Western European standards, Bucharest signals a commitment to bolster national air defense at a time of heightened regional tension.

Moreover, participation in a joint European procurement initiative underlines a growing trend among EU and NATO members to pool resources, achieving economies of scale, harmonised capabilities, and stronger collective deterrence.

For neighbouring countries and allies, Romania’s move may strengthen the overall air-defence posture on NATO’s eastern flank and contribute to regional stability in a volatile security environment.