MBDA has upgraded its MISTRAL 3 very short-range air defense missile to target and destroy fast inshore attack craft (FIAC), a threat to surface warships.
MBDA confirmed the capability following the missile’s final qualification trial in Spain.
The upgrade is thanks to improvements in the missile’s flight control, guidance, and image processing, and is applicable for night operations as well.
The missile has already been tested against drone targets with very weak infrared signatures, including a “Shahed-type drone.”
“These kinds of threats are becoming more common in today’s conflicts,” MBDA explained.
“MISTRAL 3 is currently the only combat-proven, very short-range air defence missile with proven performance against these types of targets, both during the day and at night.”
MISTRAL 3
A versatile multi-domain, multi-platform missile, MISTRAL 3 is the latest variant of the MISTRAL family of missiles operational since the early 1990s.
It has an interception range of 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) and an interception altitude of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet).
The missile is highly maneuverable, has high supersonic speed, and is immune to all known infrared countermeasures, according to MBDA.
MISTRAL SIMBAD-RC
The missile is deployed from the ship-borne SIMBAD-RC self-defense system for protection from threats such as anti-ship missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, as well as asymmetric surface threats.
A light-weight SIMBAD-RC can be installed on a wide range of ships, including patrol boats and support ships.
Thanks to its modular design, the system conforms to different combat systems, from standalone to fully integrated.
The system has also been upgraded to better protect against mass attacks.
