R.550 Magic

Magic
A R550 Magic (left) and Super 530 (right) under the wing of a Mirage 2000
Type	Short-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1975 (Magic) and 1986 (Magic 2)
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Manufacturer	Matra, MBDA
Specifications
Weight	89 kg
Length	2.72 m
Diameter	157 mm
Warhead	13 kg fragmentation
Detonation mechanism	IR
Engine	solid
Operational range	0.3 to 15 km
Flight altitude	up to 11 km
Guidance system	Infrared homing
Launch platform	Dassault Rafale, Dassault Mirage 2000, F-16, Sea Harrier(FRS51), Super Étendard, Mirage F1, Mirage 5, Mirage III.

The R.550 Magic (Acronym for Missile Auto-Guidé Interception et Combat · ) is a short-range air-to-air missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder.

On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a Nord CT20 target drone (unmanned aerial vehicle).

Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was adopted by the French Air Force and the Navy.

The Argentine Air Force received "Magic 1" for its Mirage IIIEA during the 1982 Falklands War.

The Argentine Navy received "Magic 1" for its Super Etendards. However, they were procured after the 1982 Falklands War.

An upgraded version, the "Magic 2", replaced the original model in 1986. 11,300 Magic 2 were produced; it was exported, notably to Iraq and Greece, who have used it in actual combat.

The Magic is still carried by the Dassault Rafale, Dassault Mirage 2000, F-16, Sea Harrier(FRS51), Super Étendard, Mirage F1, Mirage 5, and Mirage III. It is gradually being replaced by the MBDA MICA.