The MBDA MICA (Missile d'Interception et de Combat Aérien, "Interception and Air Combat Missile") is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire and forget missile system. It is intended to be used both by air platforms (Dassault Rafale) and by ground or sea units, which are equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System. It is fitted with a thrust vector control (TVC) system.
It was developed from 1982 by Matra. The first trials occurred in 1991, and the missile was commissioned in 1996 to equip with the Rafale and Mirage 2000. This missile is a replacement for both Super S 530D (interception) and Magic II (dogfight). Two can be fired in a 2-second interval.
The MICA can be fitted with an electromagnetic or an IR detector. The EM autodirector can detect and track targets several dozen kilometres away. The IR is fitted with a computer which can filter out most counter-measures.
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