Hungary has received the first batch of Mistral-2 air defense systems from Matra BAe. The $100 million deal included 45 ATLAS launchers (each mounting two Mistral-2 missiles in the ready-to-fire position) and nine Mistral Coordination Posts. The Hungarians are the first customer for the Mistral Coordination Post, which includes an Oerlikon Italian radar; each post can control numerous air defense stations including Mistral and others. The Hungarians have mounted the 45 launchers and 9 command posts on German Mercedes 4x4 trucks. A second batch of launchers and Coordination Posts will be mounted on Russian-built BTR-80 eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers.--Stephen V Cole