The French arms procurement agency (DGA) has conducted live testing of the MICA NG (new generation) air-to-air missile for the first time.
A Rafale fighter jet launched the MBDA missile during the developmental trial, validating its implementation chain and associated performances.
MICA NG is being developed in infrared and electromagnetic homing versions. The launch at DGA’s Mediterranean Sea missile testing site assessed the infrared version.
The test is a significant milestone in the missile’s qualification and integration into the Rafale.
Additional “firings will take place in order to validate the full capabilities of the MICA NG, in its different versions and firing configurations, at different altitudes and flight speeds of the aircraft, including supersonic,” the DGA stated.
[#Essai 📋] MICA NG
La DGA procède au 1er tir de développement du missile MICA NG de @MBDAGroup depuis un Rafale ⤵️@Armees_Gouv @Armee_de_lair @MarineNationale @Dassault_OnAir pic.twitter.com/oodHfLGwo6
— Direction générale de l'armement 🇫🇷 (@DGA) June 20, 2025
MICA NG
Jointly developed by MBDA and the DGA, the missile’s dual-pulse rocket motor offers improved performance and capabilities compared to its predecessor.
The NG has up to 40 percent greater range than the MICA and higher maneuverability.
It features a dual-mode, electronically scanned array seeker for all-weather and beyond-visual-range engagements, as well as a passive imaging infrared seeker for enhanced sensitivity and resistance to countermeasures.
Thanks to onboard upgrades, the missile can engage a wider set of aerial targets than its predecessors.
The 112-kilogram (245-pound) missile’s reported range is around 80 to 100 kilometers (50 to 62 miles), with a maximum speed of Mach 4.
“Thanks to its on-board technologies, this new-generation weapon system will enable forces to face future threats that are more stealthy, more efficient and faster, and thus maintain operational superiority in contested airspace,” the DGA explained.
Missile Orders
A total of 567 MICA NGs have been ordered by the DGA, with the first 200 to be delivered from 2026 onward.
The second batch of 367 will be delivered between 2028 and 2031.
The missile is intended to enhance the medium-range interception, close combat, and self-protection capabilities of the French Air Force and French Navy’s Rafale aircraft.
