Third Contract Valued at €50 Million
On 12 June in Paris the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) and MBDA signed a further contract for the supply of MISTRAL SHORAD systems, plus associated test, maintenance and training components. Valued at €50 million, with options for additional missiles that could double that sum if exercised, this contract follows an initial one inked in 2009, which was renewed by a second in 2015.
“Acquiring additional MISTRAL 3 rounds is one of our top priorities and critical defence investments in the near future, besides automatic rifles and K9-THUNDER howitzers,“ commented ECDI’s Director, Col. Rauno Sirk. Under the terms of the contract, Estonia will continue acquiring the MISTRAL SHORAD missile in its latest generation, which provides increased accuracy and longer service life than missiles of previous generations. The last missiles under the 2015 contract are scheduled to be delivered in 2019 and deliveries under the new contract are to be made from 2020, to ensure continuity of supply.
“This third contract with our Estonian partners confirms the great confidence they place in MBDA products, and especially the latest generation of MISTRAL. We take this as a further mark of confidence from the Estonian armed forces in our ability to build long-term relationships with our customer nations,” explained MBDA’s Senior Vice President NATO, Didier Philippe.