- 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=OneSNPE 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 guidanceActive radar homing
MICA-IR: Imaging Infrared homing
detonation=RFproximity fuze , impact fuze
launch_platform=Dassault Rafale ,Mirage 2000 , F-16E Block 60TheMBDA 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 MICAVertical 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 bothSuper 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 imaginginfrared 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 theAIM-120 AMRAAM at medium ranges and theAIM-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 MICASHORAD .Operators
; FRA:
French Air Force andFrench 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]
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