France Conducts First Test of MICA NG Missile from Rafale Jet

The French Armaments Agency (DGA) completed the first development test of the MICA NG (Missile d’Interception, de Combat et d’Auto-défense Nouvelle Génération) from a Rafale test aircraft on June 19.

The launch took place at the DGA Missile Testing Center in the Mediterranean, marking a key step in validating the new-generation air-to-air missile's capabilities.

The missile was tested in its infrared version and achieved its intended objectives, confirming the full implementation chain and its performance. The test was carried out with support from MBDA, Dassault Aviation, and the French Air and Space Force, under the direction of the DGA, which serves as the program's contracting authority.

According to the DGA, this trial is a milestone toward qualifying the MICA NG for operational use aboard Rafale aircraft operated by both the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy.

The test involved five DGA centers of expertise, including DGA Missile Tests, DGA Flight Tests, DGA Engineering and Projects, DGA Information Control, and DGA Aerospace Techniques. These centers were responsible for safety oversight, target implementation, and technical analysis.

Extensive preparations preceded the test, including multiple campaigns using a Fokker 100 test bench aircraft from DGA Essais en Vol. The launch validated MICA NG’s infrared homing guidance, and future firings will assess the missile’s full operational envelope—including electromagnetic versions and supersonic launches at varying altitudes.

The MICA NG is being developed in two versions: infrared and electromagnetic homing. Equipped with a bi-pulse thruster and advanced onboard sensors, the missile is designed to counter a range of modern airborne threats, including stealthy and high-speed targets.

Initial deliveries are planned by 2030 to replace existing MICA stocks, maintaining the Rafale's air-to-air engagement and self-protection capabilities against evolving threats.