Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Vertical Launch Mica

Also Known As
VL Mica

Origin
France
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
MBDA

Air-to-Air Missiles:
Mica IR (24)
Mica RF (24)

Description: The Vertical Launch Mica is a modular short range air defense system which fires the two Mica missiles types (IR and RF). It is intended against simultaneously multiple attacks of aircraft and missiles adding the advantage of employing and fire and forget missile. The Vertical Launch Mica can face the most severe IRCM-ECM scenarios (Infrared Countermeasures and Electronic Countermeasures). The Vertical Launch Mica has been developed to meet the requirements of land and naval military forces.

The Vertical Launch Mica land-based consists of a Tactical Operations Centre (TOC), a 3D radar and 3 to 6 Mica launchers. All the items are mounted on separate vehicles. Each Mica Launcher accommodates 4 Mica IR/RF missiles. The TOC is interconnected to the 3D radar via optical fiber and to the Mica Launchers via UHF communications. The mobile land-based VLM provides air defense against aircraft, UAV, helicopters and standoff weapons for maneuver military forces.

On 22 December 2005, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) awarded MBDA a contract in support of VL Mica air defense system fielding. The French Air Force, Army and Navy would deploy Vertical Launch Mica medium-range, ground- and ship-based air defense system.

Specifications
Performance: Ceiling 10,000 m (32,808 ft), Max Range 12,000 m (39,370 ft)

News
VL Mica Tested from a Naval Launcher

VL Mica Air Defense System Gets Green Light

VL Mica Scores Direct Hit in Test Firing

Operators

France

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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