Mica
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1996
Total Production : 3,000
The Mica missile has been designed to meet the requirements of the French Air Force for an advanced fire-and-forget air-to-air missile capable of medium and short range engagements. The Mica missiles are suitable for close-in dogfight combat, while they can engage multiple targets beyond the visual range. It can operate in heavy countermeasures environments. The Mica missile features two seekers and its own ECCM (Mica RF and IR ECCMs are different). The Mica RF is provided with an active radar homing head and the Mica IR is provided with an infrared imagery homing head. The Mica IR is an stealth missile due to its passive infrared sensor.
The target coordinates are transferred from the aircraft's sensors to the Mica missile before launching. Once fired, the Mica missile depends on the Inertial Navigation System target information can be updated from the launching aircraft via an uplink. In the terminal phase the RF/IR seeker is fully responsible for target acquisition and interception. The Mica also features a high maneuverability due to thrust vector control and effective tail control surfaces. Mica's blast fragmentation warhead detonates by proximity or direct impact.
In November 2018 the French Defense procurement agency (DGA) awarded a contract to MBDA for the development of the Mica NG missile. The Mica NG is the next-generation of the Mica air-to-air missile scheduled for fielding beginning in 2026 onboard the Rafale fighter aircraft family. The Mica NG includes redesign of the missile while keeping the same aerodynamics, mass and center of gravity to fit into current missile launchers. The NG missile will keep two seeker options (Infrared or Radar) as well the possibility of using rail and ejection launchers. New internal sensors will allow the monitoring of the missile throughout its life for reduced maintenance and ownership costs.
| Model | Status | Year | Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mica RF | Active | 1996 | ? |
| Mica IR | Active | 2000 | 1,000 |
| Mica NG RF | Under Development | 2026 | ? |
| Mica NG IR | Under Development | 2026 | ? |
Mica RF
Group : Air-to-Air Missiles
Status : Active
Also Known As : Mica EM
Origin : 
France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1996
Total Production : ?
The Mica RF is in service with the Air Forces of Taiwan, Qatar, France, United Arab Emirates and Greece. The Mica RF missile is the weapon of choice for air-to-air engagements of the Mirage 2000-5, Mirage 2000-9 and Rafale aircraft.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Egypt | Planned | ? | Missiles ordered for four Gowind class corvettes |
| France | Active | 555 | The French Air Force and Navy ordered 1110 Mica IR/RF missiles to be delivered by 2012. The 1000th missile was delivered in November 2010. |
 Greece | Active | ? | |
 India | Active | ? | |
 Malaysia | Active | 72 | |
 Oman | Active | ? | |
 Qatar | Active | ? | |
 Singapore | Active | ? | |
 Taiwan | Active | ? | |
 United Arab Emirates | Active | ? |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Diameter | 160 millimeter | |
| Length | 3.1 meter | |
| G-load | ||
| Max Maneuvering Load Factor | 50 g | |
| Mass | ||
| Warhead | 12 kilogram | |
| Weight | 112 kilogram | |
| Performance | ||
| Max Range | 60,000 meter | |
| Min Range | 500 meter | |
| Speed | ||
| Top Speed | 4 mach | |
| Time | ||
| Service Life | 25 year | |
Mica IR
Group : Air-to-Air Missiles
Status : Active
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2000
Total Production : 1,000
The Mica IR is in service with the Air Forces of France, United Arab Emirates and Greece. The Mica IR missile is the weapon of choice for air-to-air engagements of the Mirage 2000-5, Mirage 2000-9 and Rafale aircraft.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Planned | ? | Missiles ordered for four Gowind class corvettes |
| France | Active | 555 | The French Air Force and Navy ordered 1110 Mica IR/RF missiles to be delivered by 2012. The 1000th missile was delivered in November 2010. |
| Greece | Active | 100 | |
| India | Active | ? | |
 Morocco | Active | ? | Used on Mirage F1 jets |
| Oman | Active | ? | |
| Qatar | Active | ? | |
| United Arab Emirates | Active | ? |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Diameter | 160 millimeter | |
| Length | 3.1 meter | |
| G-load | ||
| Max Maneuvering Load Factor | 50 g | |
| Mass | ||
| Warhead | 12 kilogram | |
| Weight | 112 kilogram | |
| Performance | ||
| Max Range | 60,000 meter | |
| Min Range | 500 meter | |
| Speed | ||
| Top Speed | 4 mach | |
| Time | ||
| Service Life | 25 year | |
Mica NG RF
Group : Air-to-Air Missiles
Status : Under Development
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2026
Total Production : ?
The Mica NG RF is a radar-guided air-to-air missile fitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar seeker to engage targets with reduced electromagnetic signature. Besides, the AESA seeker will allow smart detection strategies to engage stealth threats. The more compact and lighter electronics will allow loading more propellant extending thus the range of the missile. A new double pulse rocket motor will provide additional energy at the end of the flight improving the maneuverability and the ability to intercept targets at long range.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Planned | 128 | |
| France | Planned | ? |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Max Range | 40 kilometer | |
Mica NG IR
Group : Air-to-Air Missiles
Status : Under Development
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2026
Total Production : ?
The Mica NG IR features an advanced infrared (IR) seeker to engage targets with reduced infrared signature such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and stealth aircraft. The IR seeker will be based upon a matrix sensor with greater sensitivity. The more compact and lighter electronics will allow loading more propellant extending thus the range of the missile. A new double pulse rocket motor will provide additional energy at the end of the flight improving the maneuverability and the ability to intercept targets at long range.
Operators
| Country | Status | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Planned | ? |
Specifications
| Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Max Range | 40 kilometer | |
News
MBDA strengthens its close relationship with Greece’s armed forces with two contracts for armaments for the Hellenic Navy and Hellenic Air Force, signed on Thursday, 24 March 2022.
MBDA has been awarded a contract from the Egyptian Navy for the VL MICA NG (New Generation) air defence system to equip its Egyptian corvettes.
Lieutenant General Theodoros Lagios, General Director for Defence Investments and Armaments of the Greek Ministry of Defence and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, today signed
On the occasion of the Euronaval-Online exhibition, MBDA announces the commercial launch of its new VL MICA NG air defence system.
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, received the F4-standard development contract for the Rafale combat aircraft on January 14, 2019, during the visit of
The French Defence Procurement Agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has awarded MBDA the contract for the MICA NG (Missile d’Interception et de Combat Aérien Nouvelle
The most eye catching detail about the Rafael deal disclosed in the Indian Parliament was product support to the 36 combat jets for 50 years.
Saint-Cloud, France, July 19, 2016 – The French defense procurement agency DGA has decided to give Dassault Aviation the responsibility of renovating 55 Mirage 2000D aircraft
MBDA Italia has signed today a contract worth more than 1 billion euros to supply the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with missiles for their new naval vessels recently procured
Saint-Cloud, January, 23, 2014 – The RAFALE has successfully completed its first test flights in a new heavily-armed configuration, comprising six air-to-ground precision
The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) has recently conducted an operational naval VL MICA missile firing from the Al Shamikh Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV), a Khareef class constructed by BAE Systems.
On 24 September 2012, the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO) successfully carried out the first operational firing of a VL MICA missile.
Photo Gallery
January 2021
French Air Force Rafale B
October 2020
VL Mica surface-to-air missile
January 2014
Heavily armed Rafale first flight January 23, 2014
October 2013
VL Mica missile test firing in 2006
Notes
State Latest Known holdings/Original Procurement
Com - Date of Commissioning
Decom - Date of Decommissioning
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