Naval VL Mica Missile System Completes 14th Successful Test Firing

The production series version of the vertical launch container has now been validated

The terminal precision of the missile has been confirmed for the fourteenth time in succession

At approximately 15.30 pm on Thursday, 23rd October 2008, a MICA missile fired from a vertical launcher scored a direct hit against a Banshee drone flying at low level over the sea at a range exceeding 12 km. The firing was carried out by MBDA at the DGA’s (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement) CELM (Centre d’Essais de Lancement de Missiles) at Biscarosse (Landes).

This, the latest of a series of 14 successful MICA firings from vertical launchers, marks the end of the validation trials of the production series CLA (Conteneur Lanceur Autonome – Autonomous Launcher Container). The CLA enables the vertical launch of the MICA missile and has already been selected by several navies worldwide to equip their corvettes.

Of special note is that the MICA missile was fired in an EM (Electro-Magnetic) configuration, namely equipped with a radar seeker, against a target designation provided by the firing range and that the target was at a range of 15km.

The engagement in its entirety was carried out under radar control from target designation by the firing range to final terminal guidance by the seeker. Given the small size of the target, the fact that it was intercepted as a result of direct missile impact and not by the effect of the missile’s explosive charge demonstrates the exceptional precision of the missile guidance system.

Source: A FURTHER SUCCESSFUL FIRING OF VL MICA IN ITS NAVAL CONFIGURATION

Resources

CELM - Centre d’Essais des Landes
CELM - Centre d’Essais de Lancement Missile
CLA - Conteneur Lanceur Autonome
DGA - Délégation Générale pour l’Armement
EM - Electro-Magnetic

Components : Vertical Launch Mica

France