MICA Missile Upgrade: MBDA Reveals 'NG' Variant for Rafale & Mirage

Missile heavyweight MBDA is upgrading a core weapon for Rafale and Mirage operators with the MICA NG (Next Generation). This advanced air-to-air missile is the direct successor to the widely used MICA system currently in service with the French Air Force and Navy.

The MICA, developed decades ago, is also a mainstay of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The MICA NG boasts key advancements over its predecessor, including extended range from a new dual-pulse motor and enhanced resilience to enemy jamming with upgraded electronic countermeasures (ECM). A streamlined datalink with the launch aircraft promises faster updates and increased accuracy.

While the IAF leverages the MICA for some aircraft, the upgraded Jaguar fleet uses the MBDA ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) as part of its New Generation Close Combat Missile program.

The future brings the IAF's MWF-Tejas Mk2 fighter jet, expected to enter service around 2028-30. This indigenously-developed aircraft will likely feature a powerful UTTAM AESA radar, enabling a range of potential missile integrations:

• Beyond Visual Range (BVR): India's Astra Mk1 and Mk2, MBDA's Meteor
• Within Visual Range (WVR): MBDA's ASRAAM, potential for MICA NG

This diverse arsenal will ensure the IAF's MWF-Tejas Mk2 is well-prepared to dominate future aerial battles. The MICA NG, alongside other state-of-the-art weapon systems, will bolster India's overall air defense capabilities.

 

[sanket]

Better go for Astra series For Mirage Fleet , This MICA-NG has less than 100 kM range for BVR .AND PYTHON-5 is better in WVR .

 

[Satya Dev]

After Astra Mk2 & 3 are inducted there will be no need to look at other options.

 

[NSR]

Mica NG developments and testings are slated to be completed by 2026 from MBDA.
Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?
Mirage-2000UPG can't see a fighter at 160 kms to go into a fight by itself if the enemy fields fighters with longer range BVRAAMs..

Whole Mirage-2000 and its upgrade without an AESA radar and a new engine is a big freebie to France.

 

[Itachi]

Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?

160km Max range mean no escape zone will be 80-100km but I don't think so india going to buy mica ng when they are already have Astra mk 2 ...

 

[sanket]

Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?
Mirage-2000UPG can't see a fighter at 160 kms to go into a fight by itself if the enemy fields fighters with longer range BVRAAMs..

who said MICA-NG has 160 kM Range..............??? pl share source , second According to me it has MXX Range is 80 kM for BVR

 

[Akshat]

160km Max range mean no escape zone will be 80-100km but I don't think so india going to buy mica ng when they are already have Astra mk 2 ...

We have Astra mk2??? When????

 

[Itachi]

We have Astra mk2??? When????

No we don't but Astra mk2 project already in advance stage ... 1/2 years it will be ready for full scale production.. iaf have no reason to go for mica ng ..

 

[NSR]

who said MICA-NG has 160 kM Range..............??? pl share source , second According to me it has MXX Range is 80 kM for BVR

Mica original range 60 to 80 kms

Mica NG is 160 kms according to MBDA and even Defence.in which posted recently.

 

[Sridhar]

Mica NG developments and testings are slated to be completed by 2026 from MBDA.
Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?
Mirage-2000UPG can't see a fighter at 160 kms to go into a fight by itself if the enemy fields fighters with longer range BVRAAMs..

Whole Mirage-2000 and its upgrade without an AESA radar and a new engine is a big freebie to France.

ASTRA series are the best options for IAF.

 

[Akshat]

No we don't but Astra mk2 project already in advance stage ... 1/2 years it will be ready for full scale production.. iaf have no reason to go for mica ng ..

It has not been test fired from a jet even once and it will be ready in 1/2 year for full scale production? Waah re Mungerilal aur uske haseen sapne.

 

[nakul1307]

MICA is primarily WVR, Meteor is BVR. Astra 1,2,3 are all BVRs. Astra IR is being developed in WVR segment.

 

[sanket]

Mica original range 60 to 80 kms

Mica NG is 160 kms according to MBDA and even Defence.in which posted recently.

Now more interesting is Meteor Range , In some post on Defence.in it is said 150 kM and some say 200 KM . it very Funny even after all 36 Rafales are delivered Range of Meteor is varaible.............................

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

Mica NG developments and testings are slated to be completed by 2026 from MBDA.
Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?
Mirage-2000UPG can't see a fighter at 160 kms to go into a fight by itself if the enemy fields fighters with longer range BVRAAMs..

Whole Mirage-2000 and its upgrade without an AESA radar and a new engine is a big freebie to France.

BVR missiles can be guided through other platforms as well like AWACS

 

[Sandeep]

India shouldn't buy this missile at all because our indigenous BVRAAM Astra 1 and future 2 & 3 will be much better and much cheaper than foreign expensive imports. Currently we need to install this across all of our foreign jets and especially front line jets because of the advanced capabilities and technology used on our missiles which are better than foreign missiles.

 

[Rajesh]

Mica NG developments and testings are slated to be completed by 2026 from MBDA.
Articles says it has a range of 160 kms and will be cheaper to make it affordable to many countries.

But how can our Mirage-2000UPG with barely 120 km or so scan and track a fighter beyond its range and benefit from 160kms range Mica NG?
Mirage-2000UPG can't see a fighter at 160 kms to go into a fight by itself if the enemy fields fighters with longer range BVRAAMs..

Whole Mirage-2000 and its upgrade without an AESA radar and a new engine is a big freebie to France.

That was the biggest scam and loot done by France and hal to this nation.can't say anything but be cautious while dealing with France and their keyboard warriors.

 

[Pad UwU]

Now more interesting is Meteor Range , In some post on Defence.in it is said 150 kM and some say 200 KM . it very Funny even after all 36 Rafales are delivered Range of Meteor is varaible.............................

Meteor is 200km range look at wiki

 

[Pad UwU]

It's better to go with astra 1, meteor and ASRAAM.... While astra 2, 3 are not operational and need further clarification of whether it is failed or not

 

[sanket]

Meteor is 200km range look at wiki

i know that some article have mentioned 150 km Range

 

[Pad UwU]

i know that some article have mentioned 150 km Range

Maybe they corrected it.... Mostly Wikipedia has tons of mods and fact checkers