This article is published in part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Jul 18, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
Mica NG firing from Rafale fighter.
The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) says it has conducted a successful test firing of the MBDA Mica NG from a Dassault Aviation Rafale while it flew at supersonic speed.
The June 1 test using an infrared seeker is part of a wider qualification of the enhanced air-to-air missile, DGA said June 6. The test took place at DGA’s Mediterranean Missile Testing Center and used an instrumented Rafale. It involved both manufacturers and the French Air and Space Force.
The French government awarded MBDA the Mica NG development and production contract in 2018. The government’s initial aim was to get the missile into users’ hands this year, though that had slipped to 2028 as of last year. The Mica can use either an infrared or radar sensors.
Under the Mica NG update, the missile is keeping the same shape and mass to ease integration, with Thales delivering a new radar sensor and Safran the infrared seeker upgrade. The motor and warhead also are being upgraded.
The test was aimed at validating the performance of the Mica NG’s new infrared seeker even when flying above Mach 1, when the sensor is subject to higher ambient temperatures. The design passed the test, DGA said.
The firing was the second of the weapon from a Rafale, with additional trials planned to clear the missile for initial delivery. Those will be performed at different altitudes and speed regimes. Production preparation is underway for the home market and export customers, DGA said.
Related Content
