American Made Advocacy: Where’s the Budget for a Modern Military Run on Microelectronics?
Defense Speak Interpreted: JADC2—Why It’s More Relevant Than Ever in Drone Warfare
Beyond the Board: Orbital High Ground—Why Space Superiority Is Slipping Away
France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary Sign LoI for the Joint Acquisition of Mistral 3 Ground-based Air Defence System
June 23, 2023 | MBDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Minister for the Armed Forces for France, and his counterparts from Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the joint acquisition of the Mistral 3 ground-based air defence system.
Led by the French Ministry for the Armed Forces with support from MBDA, the intent is to implement a joint acquisition of Mistral 3 by the French procurement agency Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) on behalf of all the partner countries.
Such an initiative is a concrete illustration of the European Council’s willingness, in the current geostrategic context at the borders of Europe, to reinforce through cooperation the defence capabilities of the European Union (EU) and its member states.
A joint acquisition could benefit from the EU support and allow scale economies to be made so as to incentivise Member States to procure defence products jointly while reinforcing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) competitiveness.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “Cooperation is at the very heart of MBDA’s DNA, and I firmly believe that we are stronger together. This signature, and our plans to double Mistral annual production capacity, underlines the company’s continuous commitment to projects giving substance to the European defence agenda.”
Mistral 3, currently in service with the French armed forces, is an air defence missile equipped with an infrared imaging seeker and advanced image processing capabilities. It can engage low thermal signature targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), turbojet-powered missiles and fast attack craft at long range. It also offers excellent resistance to countermeasures.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
I-Connect007’s Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/04/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For our industry, we have seen several bullish market announcements over the past few weeks, including one this week by IDC on the massive growth in the global server market. We’re also closely watching global trade and nearshoring. One good example of successful nearshoring is Rehm Thermal Systems, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in Mexico and the official opening of its new building in Guadalajara.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.
United Electronics Corporation Advances Manufacturing Capabilities with Schmoll MDI-ST Imaging Equipment
06/24/2025 | United Electronics CorporationUnited Electronics Corporation has successfully installed the advanced Schmoll MDI-ST (XL) imaging equipment at their advanced printed circuit board facility. This significant technology investment represents a continued commitment to delivering superior products and maintaining their position as an industry leader in precision PCB manufacturing.
Orbel Corporation Integrates Schmoll Direct Imaging
06/04/2025 | Schmoll AmericaOrbel Corporation in Easton, PA, proudly becomes the first PCM facility in the U.S. equipped with Schmoll’s MDI Direct Imaging system. This installation empowers Orbel to support customers with greater precision and quality.
Key Insights on Photoresist for Defect Reduction
05/21/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn PCB manufacturing, understanding the intricacies of the photoresist process is crucial for achieving high-quality results. Industry experts Josh Krick, a technical service engineer at IEC, and Tim Blair, a PCB imaging specialist at Tim Blair LLC, share their knowledge on the essential stages of photoresist application, highlight critical advancements in materials, and discuss common defects encountered during production. They share best practices and innovative solutions to enhance the manufacturing process, reduce defects, and ensure efficiency and reliability in high-tech applications.