MICA (missile)

MICA
An air-launched MICA IR on a Dassault Rafale
Type	Short/medium range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1996
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Manufacturer	MBDA
Specifications
Mass	112 kg[1]
Length	3.1 m[1]
Diameter	160 mm[1]
Warhead	12 kg warhead[1]
Detonation mechanism	Proximity or direct impact[1]
Engine	Solid-propellant rocket motor
Operational range	Air-launched:500 m–80 km [2][3] Vertical-launched: 1–20 km[1]
Flight altitude	Vertical-launched: 0–9 km[4]
Speed	Air-launched: Mach 4[5] Vertical-launched: Mach 3[6]
Guidance system	MICA-EM: Active radar homing MICA-IR: Infrared homing
Launch platform	Surface ship Ground batteries Dassault Rafale Mirage 2000 Mirage F1 F-16E Block 60

The MBDA MICA (Missile d’interception, de combat et d’autodéfense, “interception, combat and self-defence missile”) is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System. It is fitted with a thrust vector control (TVC) system. It was developed from 1982 onward by Matra. The first trials occurred in 1991, and the missile was commissioned in 1996 to equip the Rafale and Mirage 2000. It is a replacement for both the Super 530, in the interception role, and the Magic II, in the dogfighting role.

On 11 June 2007, a MICA launched from a Rafale successfully demonstrated its over-the-shoulder capability by destroying a target behind the launch aircraft. The target was designated by another aircraft and coordinates were transmitted by Link 16.^[7]

Contents

• 
  1 Characteristics
  


• 
  2 Variants
  


• 
  3 Operators
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Current operators
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Future operators
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 See also
  


• 
  5 References
  


• 
  6 External links
  

Characteristics

There are two MICA variants; MICA RF has an active radar homing seeker and MICA IR has an imaging infra-red homing seeker. Both seekers are designed to filter out counter-measures such as chaff and decoy flares. A thrust vector control unit fitted to the rocket motor increases the missile’s agility. The missile is capable of lock-on after launch (LOAL) which means it is capable of engaging targets outside its seeker’s at-launch acquisition range. Mounted on the Rafale, the MICA IR can provide IR imagery to the central data processing system, thus acting as an extra sensor.^[8]

MICA can also be employed as a short-range surface-to-air missile. It is available in a ground-based version, VL MICA, fired from a truck-mounted box launcher, and a naval version, VL MICA-M, fired from a ship-fitted vertical launch system.^[6] On October 23, 2008, 15:30, at CELM, Biscarosse (Landes), a VL MICA missile successfully performed the last of its 14 test firings meaning it is now ready for mass production. The target drone was flying at low level, over the sea, 12 km away; despite this distance, MICA, equipped with an active radar seeker, locked on the target and shot it down.

Corvettes too small to have the big and costly Aster missile system are the most likely customers for the VL MICA-M, which offers similar capability as the Aster 15 but without its booster and PIF-PAF vectorial control.^[9]

While the VL MICA has an advertised range of 20 km, aerodynamic performance is significantly degraded at those ranges. From 0 to 7 km MICA has maneuverability of 50g, however by 12 km this is reduced to 30g as energy is lost.^[10]

Variants

• MICA RF


• MICA EM


• MICA IR


• VL MICA RF


• VL MICA IR


• VL MICA-M RF


• VL MICA-M IR


• 
  MICA NG . Second generation of MICA designed against stealthy targets. Infrared seeker will use a matrix sensor providing greater sensitivity. The radio frequency seeker will use an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array).^[11]
  

Operators

Map of MICA operators in blue

Current operators

 Botswana

• 
  Botswana Ground Force: VL MICA on erector launcher, acquired in 2016.^[12]
  

 Egypt

• 
  Egyptian Air Force: MICA EM/IR used on Rafale aircraft.


• 
  Egyptian Navy: VL MICA-M installed on Gowind-class corvettes.

 France

• 
  French Air Force: used on Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale aircraft.


• 
  French Navy: used on Rafale M aircraft.

 Georgia

• 
  Georgian Air Force: VL MICA^[13][14] along with GroundMaster 200 and 400 radars from ThalesRaytheonSystems.^[15]
  

 Greece

• Hellenic Air Force

 India

• 
  Indian Air Force^[16]
  

 Indonesia

• 
  Indonesian Navy: VL MICA Installed on Martadinata-class frigate and Bung Tomo-class corvette
  

 Morocco

• 
  Royal Moroccan Air Force^[17]
  


• 
  Royal Moroccan Navy: VL MICA installed on Sigma-class design.

 Oman

• 
  Royal Navy of Oman: used on the Khareef-class corvettes.

 Qatar

• Qatar Emiri Air Force

 Saudi Arabia

• 
  Saudi Arabia National Guard Air Defence: VL-MICA^[18]
  

 Singapore

• 
  Republic of Singapore Navy: Independence-class littoral mission vessel is equipped with the VL MICA-M^[19]
  

 Taiwan

• 
  Republic of China Air Force: 960 originally purchased to equip Mirage 2000-5 fighters of the RoCAF. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has been tasked with upgrading the missile in 2016.^[20]
  

 Thailand

• 
  Royal Thai Army: VL MICA on truck-mounted box launcher

 United Arab Emirates

• United Arab Emirates Air Force


• 
  United Arab Emirates Navy VL MICA-M on Falaj 2-class patrol vessel
  

Future operators

 Malaysia

• 
  Royal Malaysian Navy: VL MICA has been selected to be installed on six Maharaja Lela-class frigates
  

See also

• Air-to-air missile


• List of missiles


• CAMM


• AIM-120 AMRAAM


• Derby (missile)


• R-Darter


• A-Darter


• AIM-132 ASRAAM


• IRIS-T


• AIM-9X Sidewinder


• PL-10


• PL-9


• Umkhonto

References

1. 
   ^ ^abcdef VLS MICA, MBDA, retrieved 24 November 2014.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.
   


2. 
   ^ http://www.ffaa.net/weapons/mica/mica_fr.htm
   


3. 
   ^ https://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/technologies/armement/air-air/armement-air-air
   


4. 
   ^ http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/vl-mica/vl-mica.shtml
   


5. 
   ^ "MICA", Global Security, retrieved 24 November 2014.
   


6. 
   ^ ^ab Mica Vertical Launch Short-Range Air-Defence System, France, Army technology, retrieved 24 November 2014.^{[unreliable source?]}
   


7. 
   ^ "Tir MICA depuis un Rafale F2: quand le chasseur devient la cible" [MICA shoot from a Rafale F2: when the hunter becomes the target] (in French). Armées.
   


8. 
   ^ de Briganti, Giovanni (2011-05-31). "Rafale in Combat: "War for Dummies"". Defense aerospace. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
   


9. 
   ^ "news section", A&D dic, 2008.
   


10. 
    ^ VL MICA (PDF), MBDA, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013, retrieved 24 November 2014.
    


11. 
    ^ https://www.mbda-systems.com/press-releases/mbda-to-develop-the-next-generation-of-the-mica-missile/
    


12. 
    ^ "Botswana acquired 300 million euros of French weaponry in 2016". Defence Web. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
    


13. 
    ^ "Armement : la France fait une belle percée en Géorgie", La Tribune.
    


14. 
    ^ "Georgia buying air defense systems without disclosing details of arms deals", Eurasia Daily.
    


15. 
    ^ "Paris Air Show 2015: Georgia signs major air-defence contract with Thales", Jane's, Archived from the original on 2016-06-04CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link).
    


16. 
    ^ "Cabinet Committee clears 950 million Euro deal to procure 500 air-to-air missiles for Mirage 2000". The Economic Times. The Times of India. 2012-01-04.
    


17. 
    ^ Hunter, Jamie (20 June 2007), "Upgraded Moroccan Mirage marks first signing for Astrac partnership", FlightGlobal.
    


18. 
    ^ "Saudi Arabia's land-based VL MICA air defence system spotted", Defence Blog.
    


19. 
    ^ "Singapore selects VL Mica for new littoral mission vessels", Jane’s.
    


20. 
    ^ "Taiwan To Locally Upgrade MICA Missiles in ITS Mirage 2000 Jets". Defense World. 6 Dec 2016. Retrieved 6 Dec 2016.
    

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MBDA MICA.

• 
  "MBDA's Anti-Ship & Air Defence Weapons at LIMA 2013: Multiple Solutions For Multiple Missions", Navy recognition.

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