Mistral Air Defence Missile
The Mistral is a fire-and-forget anti-aircraft missile used as a very low level air defence unit. It was designed in France as a lightweight shoulder-fired air defence weapon for the French infantry. Much of the weight of the unit is taken by the launcher post, leaving the operator to aim and fire. The solid-fuel rocket is pre-packed into a tube which is clipped onto the launcher post and sight. When the operator presses a switch, the gyroscope and infrared detector head are both activated and the rocket is fired. It has a reported accuracy under operational conditions of over 92%.
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Mistral unit being used by 16 Field Regiment, Kaipara Heads, 1999
(Images courtesy NZ Army Public Relations)
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The Mistral appeared in 1988 and was purchased by the New Zealand Army in 1999. It has also been purchased by countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East.
GENERAL DATA:
| Range: | 5000 m (effective against helicopters at 4000 m) |
| Speed: | 1492 knots |
| Propulsion: | Two stage solid propellant boost motor |
| Guidance: | All-aspect infrared |
| Fuze: | Laser proximity |
| Warhead: | 3 kg HE tungsten ball |
| Launch weight: | 18 kg (40 lb) |
| Length: | 1.80 m |
| Diameter: | 90 mm |
June 2001
Guns around New Zealand |
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