VL Mica Tested from a Naval Launcher

Released on Wednesday, May 03, 2006

On 24th April 2006, MBDA successfully carried out a test firing of the VL MICA air defence missile system from a naval launcher at the French DGA's (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement) CELM (Centre d'Essai de Lancement des Missiles) test facility.

The firing was a complete success with the target destroyed by a direct hit at a range of 10 km. The target flew at very low altitude, representing a sea-skimming anti-ship missile.

The missile used for the firing was a series production MICA IR air-to-air missile but vertically launched from a naval-configured launcher. The missile, which is exactly the same as that already in service with several air force customers for the air-to-air combat theatre, acquired and locked onto the target after launch.

The firing was attended by a foreign delegation and representatives of the DGA.

The concept and technologies for the vertical launch of the MICA missile were validated in December 2001. In addition to France, several other countries have expressed a significant interest in both the land and naval variants of the VL MICA system.