A Rafale fighter jet has successfully fired the MBDA-made MICA NG missile during its second development firing test, marking the first launch conducted in a supersonic flight configuration.
Teams from MBDA, Dassault Aviation, the French defense procurement agency (DGA), and the French Air and Space Force participated in the test, which occurred at the Mediterranean site of the DGA Missile Testing Centre.
The firing evaluated the performance of the missile’s infrared seeker under the high temperature conditions generated by the Rafale flying at speeds above Mach 1, which reduces the thermal contrast between a target and its background and makes detection more challenging.
However, the test validated the capabilities of the MICA NG’s infrared seeker under these demanding conditions, advancing its qualification and integration with the French fighter jet.
It comes about a year after the MICA NG missile’s first developmental firing in late June 2025.
MICA NG
MICA NG, which stands for next generation, is part of a broader all-weather MICA missile family made by MBDA.
The multi-mission missile shares the same dimensions as the base variant, measuring 3.1 meters (10.2 feet) long with a diameter of 160 millimeters (6.3 inches) and weighing 112 kilograms (247 pounds).
Both are also offered in two guidance systems with two interoperable seekers: an active RF active electronically scanned array seeker or a passive imaging IR seeker.
MICA NG operates in both beyond-visual-range and short-range combat situations, but with a higher performance than its predecessor, and features up to 40 percent longer range capability.
According to MBDA, the MICA NG can engage a wide range of threats aside from aircraft and helicopters. It is also effective against drones, stealth fighter jets, and maneuverable cruise missiles with low infrared and electromagnetic signatures.
