Friday, March 19, 2010

Vertical Launch Mica

Also Known As
VL Mica

Origin
France
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
MBDA

Applications
FMMM
Khareef

Air-to-Air Missiles:
Mica IR (8)
Mica RF (8)

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 ship-based is integrated within the ship combat system. The basic configuration of VLM is an Modular Vertical Container with 8 Mica missiles. The target information is taken from the radar and electro-optical sensors of the ship with no need for illuminators or tracking radar. Once fired the Mica missile is absolutely autonomous.

The shipboard Vertical Launch Mica is intended against aircraft, anti-ship missiles, helicopters and UAVs in adverse weather conditions, day and night, and heavy countermeasures environments.

The compact, modular and lightweight Vertical Launch Mica is specially suitable for small and not extremely sophisticated ships. It is being offered as part of an upgrade program for existing ships.

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
Naval VL Mica Missile System Completes 14th Successful Test Firing

Oman Orders VL Mica and Exocet for its Khareef-class Vessels

VL Mica Tested from a Naval Launcher

VL Mica Air Defense System Gets Green Light

Operators

see operators map

France

Morocco / 3

Oman

Royal Navy of Oman has VL Mica Systems to equip its three Khareef Offshore Patrol Vessels

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: Sunday, March 07, 2010

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