I’d call Mistral a semi-MANPADS, as at 18.7kg it’s a bit heavy to be lugged around all day together with ones other kit. Warhead less than 3kg, range maybe 5 km, ceiling maybe 3000m, IR-guided. Right. We know it’s physical limitations. But what about its guidance, warhead effectiveness, etc.?
MBDA sells a lot of Mistrals for defence of ships. What would it stop? Is it capable of intercepting an anti-ship missile, & if so, could it stop one? I can’t see it having much effect on a Brahmos or the like, but could it hit & stop a smaller, slower, missile? If so, what?
By: Distiller - 23rd August 2010 at 06:12
Mini-SAM, especially with the Command Centre and the Giraffe radar. Man-portable it ain’t, rather Jeep-portable. And I think that’s basically it, a low-maintenance lightweight SAM that can be mounted anywhere a .50cal machine gun would fit.
No way the system can intercept incoming missiles. I say man-in-the-loop systems can’t do that at all, except under very special and very lucky circumstances.
But it can keep small tactical UAVs and non-ATGM’d helicopters away.
Sign In
August 22, 2010 at 3:38 pm