The MBDA
MICA (Missile d’interception et de combat aérien, “Interception and
Aerial Combat Missile”) is an anti-air multi-target, all weather,
fire-and-forget 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 Super 530 (interception)
and Magic II (dogfight). Two can be fired in a two-second interval.
Two seeker types are available for the MICA, one with active radar
homing (MICA RF, also commonly called MICA AR) and the other with
imaging infrared homing (MICA IR). Both missiles are able to filter
out countermeasures. They can also lock on both before and after
launch.
The MICA can be employed as a short-range surface-to-air missile,
currently available fired from a truck-mounted box launcher. This
system is known as VL MICA SHORAD.
MICA Specifications |
Type |
Multi-mission
air-to-air missile |
Manufacturer |
MBDA |
Weight |
112kg |
Warhead |
12kg high explosive warheads with RF proximity
fuse and focused splinters |
Length |
3.1m |
Diameter |
0.16m |
Performance |
Range from 500m to > 60km,
tail control surfaces, thrust vector control (TVC), guidance inertial
reference unit, RF monopulse Doppler seeker and rear data link receiver |