What Happened
Supersonic Firing Validates Infrared Seeker Performance
France has successfully carried out the first firing of the MICA NG air-to-air missile from a Dassault Rafale in supersonic flight, marking a key step towards qualifying the next-generation weapon. The test, conducted by the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) with MBDA, Dassault Aviation, and the French Air and Space Force, validated the performance of the missile’s infrared seeker under demanding conditions. The MICA NG is being developed to replace the in-service MICA on the Rafale, with further firings planned to qualify the missile across different versions and flight speeds. This development was first reported by AeroTime.