Bucharest, Romania – Romania’s defence ministry has signed a landmark agreement with France to acquire 231 Mistral man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) and 934 associated missiles, in a deal valued at over €626 million ($726 million). The contract also includes training, simulators, and logistical support, and is part of a broader joint procurement effort with several other European Union member states.

The acquisition, first approved by Romanian lawmakers in 2022, underscores Romania’s commitment to modernizing its air-defense capabilities amid ongoing regional security concerns. The country shares a 650-kilometer land border with Ukraine, where repeated drone incursions and falling debris have heightened the need for advanced defensive measures.

Romania currently fields a range of air-defense assets, including F-16 fighter jets, Patriot missile systems, Lockheed Martin HIMARS rocket launchers, South Korean Chiron short-range surface-to-air missiles, and German Gepard anti-aircraft guns. The Mistral systems are expected to complement this existing arsenal, enhancing the country’s ability to respond to aerial threats.

The Mistral systems, produced by French missile manufacturer MBDA, are highly mobile and designed to engage a variety of low-altitude aerial targets, including drones and aircraft, providing rapid response and precision targeting capabilities for frontline troops.

In addition to the procurement, Romania is exploring joint drone development with Ukraine under a new European Union defense funding framework and is nearing the deployment of the Merops anti-drone system, supplied by the United States. These initiatives highlight Romania’s focus on strengthening both national and regional security in light of ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe.