Bulgarianmilitary.com
Ukraine gets Norwegian Mistral VSHORAD – 800 m/s, 6 km range
KYIV, ($1=29.46 Ukrainian Hryvnias) — Assistance to Ukraine from Norway in the form of the Mistral SAM may seem a little strange, but it is a gift that can really help the armed forces. Hundreds of Mistral anti-aircraft missile systems will arrive in Ukraine as free aid from Norway, learned BulgarianMilitary.com, citing a statement by Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram.
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He also stressed that the Mistral SAM is “an effective weapon used in the Navy and will be very useful for Ukraine.” And according to Norwegian media, Mistral, which is installed on Norwegian Alta and Oksoy minesweepers, is still planning to replace it with a newer one, so the transfer of these weapons will not affect Norway’s defense capabilities.
Therefore, when it comes to Mistral, it should be understood that this is not a portable complex, but an installation. In the case of Norwegian weapons – a paired installation of Sibmad in the first version. The most correct classification is VSHORAD [Very Short Range Air Defense] – air defense with a very short range.
Note that the characteristics of the Mistral rocket, which was created in the 80s, do not differ from the characteristics of the breakthrough. And in the version from the ’90s, Mistral has the following technical data: it weighs 19.7 kg, has an effective operating range of 6 km, the warhead weighs 2.95 kg, and the missile flies at a maximum speed of 800 m / sec.
Mistral VSHORAD
Of course, the current version of this missile from MDBA has a range of up to 7.5 km, but Norway is unlikely to renew the stocks purchased in the 90s. Therefore, to understand the effectiveness of these weapons, it would be right to focus on the indicators for older versions.
As with many other missiles in this class, an infrared targeting head is used for guidance. The detonation of the missile is possible with a remote laser detonator or contact. Combined with a powerful warhead, this can be a decisive factor in complete destruction, not damage to the target.
At the same time, the question of a “place inline” Mistral arises. First of all, he needs a machine to start. The missiles may be transferred with Sibmad launchers, which will be removed from the ships. Or the armed forces will receive ground launchers separately.
Second, to ensure mobility, the starter must be installed on a mobile platform. At the same time, such an installation will not be effective in the foreground, because the range of Mistral launches is similar to the much less noticeable portable anti-aircraft missile system.
Therefore, according to experts, one of the few effective scenarios for the use of SAM Mistral in Ukraine is the protection against cruise missiles. The fact is that one of the main tasks of Sibmad with Mistral is the destruction of anti-ship missiles, which do not differ much in-flight parameters from cruise missiles.