High over the Mediterranean on 1 June 2026, a French Rafale pushed past the speed of sound and let a missile go. The moment of separation — missile leaving the rail of a jet travelling faster than sound — is one of the most violent things a weapon can be asked to survive. This time, it was the first time the new MICA NG had ever done it from a supersonic Rafale.
It was a development firing, conducted by MBDA with Dassault Aviation and the French Air and Space Force at the DGA missile test range. And it matters far beyond France: the MICA NG is the weapon meant to keep the Rafale lethal for the next two decades, against everything from stealth jets to cruise missiles and drones.
QUICK FACTS
What: First launch of the MICA NG air-to-air missile from a Rafale flying supersonic
When: 1 June 2026
Where: DGA Essais de missiles, French Mediterranean test range
Who: MBDA, Dassault Aviation, French Air and Space Force
The missile: 112 kg, dual-pulse motor, up to 40% more range than today’s MICA
Two seekers: MICA IR NG (imaging infrared) and MICA EM NG (AESA radar)
Why a supersonic shot is the hard part
Firing a missile while the launch aircraft sits at a gentle cruise is one thing. Firing it at supersonic speed is another entirely. The missile’s nose and seeker are slammed by aerodynamic heating and brutal airloads the instant it leaves the aircraft. If the seeker loses its lock, or the airframe flexes, the shot is wasted.
That is precisely what this test set out to prove. The launch validated that the missile’s imaging infrared seeker could acquire and track its target, that guidance held, and that the airframe took the punishment of a high-speed separation — the exact conditions a Rafale pilot would face trying to intercept a fast, fleeting threat.
One missile, two sets of eyes
The clever part of the MICA family has always been that it comes in two flavours that share an identical body. The MICA IR NG uses an imaging infrared seeker, hunting heat silently without ever switching on a radar — ideal for ambushing a stealthy target that is listening for radar emissions. The MICA EM NG carries an AESA radar seeker for active, all-weather engagements.
A new dual-pulse rocket motor fires in two stages, giving the MICA NG up to 40% more reach than the current MICA while keeping energy in reserve for the end-game against a hard-manoeuvring target. One missile covers both the within-visual-range knife fight and the beyond-visual-range shot.
For the Rafale, that flexibility is the whole point. A single weapon type that can be carried in numbers and switched between infrared and radar guidance simplifies the pilot’s loadout and the air force’s logistics.
A European answer in a missile race
This was a development shot, not the finish line. More firings will follow at different speeds and altitudes before the MICA NG is fully qualified. But each successful test moves Europe’s most widely exported fighter closer to a decisive upgrade — and, with India and Gulf states weighing huge new Rafale orders, the missile inside the jet is a selling point of its own.
Sources: MBDA; FlightGlobal; Army Recognition; The Defense Post; Aerotime.
Related Questions
What is the MICA NG missile?
The MICA NG (New Generation) is a French air-to-air missile made by MBDA to arm the Dassault Rafale. It weighs 112 kg, has a dual-pulse motor giving up to 40% more range than today's MICA, and comes in two versions sharing one airframe: an infrared seeker and a radar seeker.
How much range does the MICA NG have?
The MICA NG offers up to 40% more range than the current MICA, thanks to a new dual-pulse rocket motor that fires in two stages. The second pulse keeps energy in reserve for the end-game against a hard-manoeuvring target, so one missile covers both close-in and beyond-visual-range shots.
What is the difference between the MICA IR NG and MICA EM NG?
They share an identical body but use different seekers. The MICA IR NG has an imaging-infrared seeker that hunts heat silently without emitting radar — ideal for ambushing a stealthy target. The MICA EM NG uses an AESA radar seeker for active, all-weather engagements.
Why is firing a missile at supersonic speed difficult?
The instant it leaves the aircraft, the missile's nose and seeker are slammed by aerodynamic heating and violent airloads. If the seeker loses lock or the airframe flexes, the shot is wasted — which is why a supersonic launch is a critical milestone for any new air-to-air missile.
What aircraft carries the MICA NG missile?
The MICA NG arms the Dassault Rafale, France's multirole fighter. Because the new missile keeps the slender airframe of today's MICA, the Rafale can carry it on the same launch rails — even though almost everything inside the missile is new.
Who makes the MICA NG missile?
The MICA NG is built by the European missile maker MBDA, working with Dassault Aviation and the French Air and Space Force. Its first supersonic launch from a Rafale took place on 1 June 2026 at the DGA missile test range.
English
0 Comments