MICA (missile)
| MICA | |
|---|---|
An air-launched MICA on a Dassault Rafale
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| 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 | |
| Weight | 112 kg |
| Length | 3.1 m |
| Diameter | 160 mm |
| Warhead | 12 kg warhead |
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Detonation
mechanism |
Proximity or direct impact |
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| Engine | Solid-propellant rocket motor |
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Operational
range |
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| Flight altitude |
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| Speed |
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Guidance
system |
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Launch
platform |
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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.
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.
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