A magnetic actuator having three operating states for operating a three-state switching relay, comprising: an armature having two arms (232, 234) that extend laterally from a center region of the armature; and a magnetic system adapted to apply a magnetic force on at least one of the armature arms (232, 234) for causing the armature to rotate about its center region from a neutral position to any of a first operating position and a second operating position; wherein the magnetic system comprises: an electromagnet adapted to create a magnetic flux field based on an input control signal supplied by a control line, an end side of the electromagnet facing the armature; a core member extending longitudinally across an inner side of the electromagnet; at least two outer poles (292, 294) arranged on an outer side of the electromagnet, each outer pole extending adjacent to the electromagnet towards the end side facing the armature; and at least two permanent magnets (296, 298), each permanent magnet being arranged in a separation gap between a respective outer pole and the core member and magnetically polarized with respect to the core member so that the core member, each outer pole (292, 294) and the respective permanent magnet (296, 298) form a respective path for the magnetic flux created by the electromagnet, and characterized in that the armature is rotatively coupled to the core member through a hinge spring mounted through the center region of the armature, the hinge spring being adapted to maintain the armature in the neutral position when the electromagnet is de-energized. an armature having two arms (232, 234) that extend laterally from a center region of the armature; and a magnetic system adapted to apply a magnetic force on at least one of the armature arms (232, 234) for causing the armature to rotate about its center region from a neutral position to any of a first operating position and a second operating position; wherein the magnetic system comprises: an electromagnet adapted to create a magnetic flux field based on an input control signal supplied by a control line, an end side of the electromagnet facing the armature; a core member extending longitudinally across an inner side of the electromagnet; at least two outer poles (292, 294) arranged on an outer side of the electromagnet, each outer pole extending adjacent to the electromagnet towards the end side facing the armature; and at least two permanent magnets (296, 298), each permanent magnet being arranged in a separation gap between a respective outer pole and the core member and magnetically polarized with respect to the core member so that the core member, each outer pole (292, 294) and the respective permanent magnet (296, 298) form a respective path for the magnetic flux created by the electromagnet, and characterized in that the armature is rotatively coupled to the core member through a hinge spring mounted through the center region of the armature, the hinge spring being adapted to maintain the armature in the neutral position when the electromagnet is de-energized. an electromagnet adapted to create a magnetic flux field based on an input control signal supplied by a control line, an end side of the electromagnet facing the armature; a core member extending longitudinally across an inner side of the electromagnet; at least two outer poles (292, 294) arranged on an outer side of the electromagnet, each outer pole extending adjacent to the electromagnet towards the end side facing the armature; and at least two permanent magnets (296, 298), each permanent magnet being arranged in a separation gap between a respective outer pole and the core member and magnetically polarized with respect to the core member so that the core member, each outer pole (292, 294) and the respective permanent magnet (296, 298) form a respective path for the magnetic flux created by the electromagnet, and characterized in that the armature is rotatively coupled to the core member through a hinge spring mounted through the center region of the armature, the hinge spring being adapted to maintain the armature in the neutral position when the electromagnet is de-energized.