MBDA MICA

Infobox Weapon
is_missile=yes
name=MICA


caption=
origin=
type=Short to Medium-Range Air to Air Tactical Missile
used_by=
manufacturer=MBDA
unit_cost=
propellant=
production_date=
service=1996 (MICA-EM) and 2000 (MICA-IR)
engine=One SNPE solid-propellant rocket motor
engine_power=
weight=112 kg
length=3.1 m
height=
diameter=160 mm
wingspan=560 mm
speed=Mach 4
vehicle_range= 500 m up to 50 km (30 mi)
ceiling=
altitude=up to 11,000 m
filling=12 kg focused splinters HE warhead
guidance=MICA-EM: Inertial guidance
Active radar homing
MICA-IR: Imaging Infrared homing
detonation=RF proximity fuze, impact fuze
launch_platform=Dassault Rafale, Mirage 2000, F-16E Block 60The 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 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 Super 530 (interception) and Magic II (dogfight). Two can be fired in a two-second interval.

Variants

Two seeker types are available for the MICA, one with active radar homing (MICA RF, also commonly called MICA EM) 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 is comparable in performance to both the AIM-120 AMRAAM at medium ranges and the AIM-9X thrust-vectoring Sidewinder at short ranges.

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.

Operators

; FRA: French Air Force and French Navy; GRE: Hellenic Air Force; QAT: Qatar Air Force; ROC-TW: Republic of China Air Force; UAE: United Arab Emirates Air Force

Possible future operators: Morocco is upgrading its Mirage F1 fleet to operate the MICA and India could retrofit its Mirage 2000C to use this missile as well. Pakistan has also been offered this missile to equip it's JF-17 fighters with RC-400 radars.

ee also

*AIM-132 ASRAAM
*AIM-120 AMRAAM
*IRIS-T
*AIM-9 Sidewinder
*R550 Magic
*List of missiles

External links

* [http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?lang=EN&noeu_id=124 MBDA MICA page]

* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/vlmica/ army-technology.com]