MICA (missile)
| MICA | |
|---|---|
 An air-launched MICA IR on a Dassault Rafale | |
| Type | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1996–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | MBDA France |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 112 kg (247 lb)[1] |
| Length | 3.1 m (10 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 160 mm (6.3 in)[1] |
| Warhead | 12 kg (26 lb) warhead[1] |
Detonation mechanism | Proximity or direct impact[1] |
| Engine | Solid-propellant rocket motor |
Operational range | |
| Flight altitude |
|
| Maximum speed | Mach 4[2][5] |
Guidance system |
|
Launch platform |
|
The MICA, abbreviated from its full name Missile d’Interception, de Combat et d’Auto-défense (lit. 'Missile for Interception, for Combat and for Auto-Defense' or 'Interception, Combat and Self-protection Missile') or alternate translation ("missile for BVR interception, for close-up combat (dogfight), & for self-defense")[2] is a French anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system manufactured by MBDA France. 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]
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.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11]
Variants
- MICA RF[12] or EM (électromagnétique)[2]
- MICA IR (infrarouge/infrared)[2]
- VL MICA RF/EM
- VL MICA IR
- VL MICA-M RF/EM
- VL MICA-M IR
- A3SM . Submarine-launched version. Installed in Barracuda-class nuclear-fueled attack subs of the French Navy.
- 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.[13]
Operators
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
Current operators
- Botswana Ground Force: VL MICA on erector launcher, acquired in 2016.[14]
- Egyptian Air Force: MICA EM/IR used on Rafale aircraft.[15]
- Egyptian Navy: VL MICA-M installed on Gowind-class corvettes.
- French Air and Space Force: used on Mirage 2000-5, Mirage 2000D RMV and Rafale aircraft.[16][17][18]
- French Navy: used on Rafale M aircraft[18] and Barracuda-class submarine.
- Georgian Air Force: VL MICA[19][20] along with Ground Master 200 and 400 radars from Thales Raytheon Systems.[21]
- Hellenic Air Force: MICA EM/IR[22][23] on Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters.
- Indian Air Force: 200 MICA-IR and 1000 MICA-RF missiles are integrated on upgraded Mirage-2000s and Rafales.[24] Indian Air Force successfully tested MICA missile from its aircraft Sukhoi Su-30MKI.[25]
- Indian Navy: on Kalvari-class submarines.
- Indonesian Navy: VL MICA-M installed on Martadinata-class frigate.[26]
- Royal Moroccan Army: Ground based VL MICA.[27]
- Royal Moroccan Air Force[28]
- Royal Moroccan Navy: VL MICA-M installed on Sigma-class design.
- Royal Navy of Oman: VL MICA-M used on the Khareef-class corvettes.
- Republic of Singapore Navy: Independence-class littoral mission vessel is equipped with the VL MICA-M.[30]
- 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.[31]
- Royal Thai Army: VL MICA on truck-mounted box launcher.
- United Arab Emirates Air Force: on the Mirage 2000.[32]
- United Arab Emirates Navy: VL MICA-M on Falaj 2-class patrol vessel.
Future operators
- Royal Malaysian Navy: VL MICA-M has been selected for the future five Maharaja Lela-class frigates.
- Croatian Air Force: With the purchase of the Rafale F3R fighter jets come MICA missiles in radar-guided and infrared versions.
- Bulgarian Navy: In september 2022 bulgarian government decided for the purchase of VL MICA for the two future patrol ships of the Bulgarian Navy. The first ship is under construction and will be commissioned in 2025.
- Ukrainian Navy: The VL "MIKA" air defense system will be installed on the Ada-class corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f VLS MICA, MBDA, archived from the original on 2 December 2015, retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Missile Air-Air Moyenne Portée" (in French). Archived from the original on 2011-07-12.
- ^ "Armement air-air" (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-08-25.
- ^ "Зенитный ракетный комплекс VL MICA | Ракетная техника". missilery.info.
- ^ "MICA", Global Security, retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ https://www.mbda-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/VL-MICA-SEA.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
- ^ de Briganti, Giovanni (2011-05-31). "Rafale in Combat: "War for Dummies"". Defense aerospace. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
- ^ Mica Vertical Launch Short-Range Air-Defence System, France, Army technology, retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "news section", A&D dic, 2008.
- ^ VL MICA (PDF), MBDA, archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013, retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "MICA Multi-mission Air-to-Air missile system". Archived from the original on 2008-05-19.
- ^ "MBDA to develop the next generation of the MICA missile | Press Release".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Les Rafale Égyptiens Ont Effectué Leur Première Mission Opérationnelle". Defens'Aero. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Les Mirage 2000-5F des Cigognes de retour en Estonie". Avionslegendaires. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ D'Urso, Stefano (2 August 2021). "French Air Force Completes Upgraded Mirage 2000D Test Campaign In Djibouti". The Aviationist. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Rafale: Armement Air-Air". Omnirole-Rafale. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Armement : la France fait une belle percée en Géorgie", La Tribune, 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Georgia buying air defense systems without disclosing details of arms deals", Eurasia Daily.
- ^ "Paris Air Show 2015: Georgia signs major air-defence contract with Thales", Jane's, archived from the original on 2016-06-04
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). - ^ "MICA EM (Missile Interception Combat Autodefence)". www.haf.gr.
- ^ "MICA IIR (Missile Interception Combat Autodefence)". www.haf.gr.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Su-30 MKI Destroys Aerial Target Using MICA Missile". India strategic.
- ^ "Indonesian Navy commissions second SIGMA frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai". Naval Today. 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ "Le Maroc emprunte 192 M€ pour acheter des missiles sol-air".
- ^ Hunter, Jamie (20 June 2007), "Upgraded Moroccan Mirage marks first signing for Astrac partnership", FlightGlobal.
- ^ "Qatar Emiri Air Force Rafale EQ/DQ". Omnirole-Rafale. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Singapore selects VL Mica for new littoral mission vessels", Jane’s.
- ^ "Taiwan To Locally Upgrade MICA Missiles in ITS Mirage 2000 Jets". Defense World. 6 Dec 2016. Retrieved 6 Dec 2016.
- ^ Amiel, Philippe (3 December 2021). "Le Rafale s'impose enfin aux Emirats". Omnirole-Rafale. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
External links
