Spanish Army to upgrade Mistral III anti-aircraft systems

The Spanish Army is upgrading its anti-aircraft capabilities by enhancing the Mistral III system. This initiative includes increasing the number of launchers and missiles to counter evolving aerial threats on modern battlefields.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense, through the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM), has approved milestones to evolve current firing positions into the Mistral 3 version. This upgrade improves operational range and altitude. More than 500 new missiles have been requested, featuring an 8-kilometer range and improved self-guidance systems. The process has been partially awarded to MBDA and will involve other Spanish companies.

In addition to the new requests, the Army utilizes existing Mistral stocks, including 91 units received from France in 2021. The modernization also involves improving mobile launchers and thermal imaging capabilities.