India has a new generation of Air-to-Air Missiles

[Major Shaitan Singh]

The arrival in India of the first two upgraded Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 T/TI fighter aircraft marked the induction of a new-generation of potent Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) with the service, in MBDA’s MICA AAM. The MICA will replace the Indian Air Force’s obsolete Super 530D Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) and Magic 550 II close combat missiles (CCM).

The MICA has an advantage over all other current AAM, of being the world’s only missile that features two interchangeable seekers — Radio Frequency (RF) and Infra-Red (IR). IAF Mirage 2000 T/TI’s can be carry up to six MICAs in a mix of RF and IR versions offering unprecedented operational flexibility and capability. When comparing MICA with the legacy Super 530D and Magic 550 II AAMs, the MICA is equipped with thrust vector control making it far more manoeuvrable and agile.

In addition, both IR and RF versions of MICA can engage multiple targets simultaneously something not possible on non-upgraded Mirage 2000s with the Super 530D and Magic 550 II missiles. The active radar seeker equipped MICA RF also has a much greater range than the missile it’s replacing, the semi active radar Super 530D. The MICA IR offers proven over the shoulder capability over the Magic II and much greater range along with Lock on before Launch (LOBL) and Lock on after Launch (LOAL) compared to the Magic II which offers only the possibility of LOBL shot.

The order for 493 MICA missiles (RF & IR) was placed in 2012 to replace the Mirage’s life-expired Matra S-530D BVRAAM and Magic 550-II CCM, with deliveries to be concluded by 2019. MBDA officials state, “everything is progressing as scheduled and deliveries will take place according to the requirements laid out in the contract regarding timing and quantities. Due to customer confidentiality, we cannot go into details of the split between the RF and IR versions.”

Upgrade work has been completed on the first two aircraft and work on the four more aircraft (two in France and two in India) are advancing on schedule as is the integration work on the missiles. MBDA personnel have been working closely with Thales as well as training Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) engineers here in France so that they carry out the remaining integration work on the aircraft to be upgraded in India. IAF Mirage 2000 T/TI’s benefit from the ‘multi-aircraft’ design of the MICA that allows the missile to be easily integrated on modern fighter aircraft. By deciding on the MICA, the IAF also benefited by not having to integrate an additional missile on its Mirage 2000 T/TIs and will also achieve substantial savings when it comes to the supply chain and maintenance of the missile.

Along with the MICA variants (RF & IR) carried on the upgraded Mirage 2000s, IAF Jaguars will be also fitted with the ASRAAM CCM, as part of Rs 2,700 crore (USD 428 million) contract signed just under a year ago. The other competitor for the contract was Rafael’s Python-5 AAM. The ASRAAM for Jaguar has been designated as the ‘new generation close combat missile’ (NGCCM) by the IAF.

The ASRAAM will be fitted on the Jaguar in a unique over-wing configuration allowing for maximum space below the wings remaining available for the Jaguar’s payload of air-to-ground weapons. The ASRAAM will be the sole AAM type fitted on the Jaguar for self-protection needs and the ASRAAM offers both close combat and near BVR capabilities. The missile is extremely fast off the rail and also features phenomenal acquisition ranges. The ASRAAM’s unrivalled ‘snap-up’ capability will offer the low-flying strike fighter an optimum means of defeating his adversary. ASRAAM provides an unrivalled self-protection zone. The ASRAAM will allow the Jaguar pilot to pull high ‘g’ manoeuvres while firing the missile without fear of compromising separation from the launch rail, say MBDA officials. Part of the Jaguar upgrade programme involves Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and here ASRAAM can offer proven digital interface and functionality.

India's Defence Goal by Nayeem Sheikh

 

[cerberus]

The arrival in India of the first two upgraded Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 T/TI fighter aircraft marked the induction of a new-generation of potent Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) with the service, in MBDA’s MICA AAM. The MICA will replace the Indian Air Force’s obsolete Super 530D Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) and Magic 550 II close combat missiles (CCM).

The MICA has an advantage over all other current AAM, of being the world’s only missile that features two interchangeable seekers — Radio Frequency (RF) and Infra-Red (IR). IAF Mirage 2000 T/TI’s can be carry up to six MICAs in a mix of RF and IR versions offering unprecedented operational flexibility and capability. When comparing MICA with the legacy Super 530D and Magic 550 II AAMs, the MICA is equipped with thrust vector control making it far more manoeuvrable and agile.

In addition, both IR and RF versions of MICA can engage multiple targets simultaneously something not possible on non-upgraded Mirage 2000s with the Super 530D and Magic 550 II missiles. The active radar seeker equipped MICA RF also has a much greater range than the missile it’s replacing, the semi active radar Super 530D. The MICA IR offers proven over the shoulder capability over the Magic II and much greater range along with Lock on before Launch (LOBL) and Lock on after Launch (LOAL) compared to the Magic II which offers only the possibility of LOBL shot.

The order for 493 MICA missiles (RF & IR) was placed in 2012 to replace the Mirage’s life-expired Matra S-530D BVRAAM and Magic 550-II CCM, with deliveries to be concluded by 2019. MBDA officials state, “everything is progressing as scheduled and deliveries will take place according to the requirements laid out in the contract regarding timing and quantities. Due to customer confidentiality, we cannot go into details of the split between the RF and IR versions.”

Upgrade work has been completed on the first two aircraft and work on the four more aircraft (two in France and two in India) are advancing on schedule as is the integration work on the missiles. MBDA personnel have been working closely with Thales as well as training Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) engineers here in France so that they carry out the remaining integration work on the aircraft to be upgraded in India. IAF Mirage 2000 T/TI’s benefit from the ‘multi-aircraft’ design of the MICA that allows the missile to be easily integrated on modern fighter aircraft. By deciding on the MICA, the IAF also benefited by not having to integrate an additional missile on its Mirage 2000 T/TIs and will also achieve substantial savings when it comes to the supply chain and maintenance of the missile.

Along with the MICA variants (RF & IR) carried on the upgraded Mirage 2000s, IAF Jaguars will be also fitted with the ASRAAM CCM, as part of Rs 2,700 crore (USD 428 million) contract signed just under a year ago. The other competitor for the contract was Rafael’s Python-5 AAM. The ASRAAM for Jaguar has been designated as the ‘new generation close combat missile’ (NGCCM) by the IAF.

The ASRAAM will be fitted on the Jaguar in a unique over-wing configuration allowing for maximum space below the wings remaining available for the Jaguar’s payload of air-to-ground weapons. The ASRAAM will be the sole AAM type fitted on the Jaguar for self-protection needs and the ASRAAM offers both close combat and near BVR capabilities. The missile is extremely fast off the rail and also features phenomenal acquisition ranges. The ASRAAM’s unrivalled ‘snap-up’ capability will offer the low-flying strike fighter an optimum means of defeating his adversary. ASRAAM provides an unrivalled self-protection zone. The ASRAAM will allow the Jaguar pilot to pull high ‘g’ manoeuvres while firing the missile without fear of compromising separation from the launch rail, say MBDA officials. Part of the Jaguar upgrade programme involves Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and here ASRAAM can offer proven digital interface and functionality.

India's Defence Goal by Nayeem Sheikh

Why not equip tejas with MICA
Why IAF going for to different types of missiles in both WVR & BVR Combat.

Any opinions Guys

 

[kṣamā]

It was time since we added teeth to those old dogs.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Why not equip tejas with MICA
Why IAF going for to different types of missiles in both WVR & BVR Combat.

Any opinions Guys

what makes you think that all the best air to air missiles in indian innoventory wont be integrated into LCA project in deu course of time ?

 

[cerberus]

what makes you think that all the best air to air missiles in indian innoventory wont be integrated into LCA project in deu course of time ?

I think we should make MICA main BVR for LCA until Astra become Mature

 

[GURU DUTT]

I think we should make MICA main BVR for LCA until Astra become Mature

its already in process + french would be more than happy to sell as many MICAs they could sell to IAF

just think of it what will LCA with UTTAM AESA + Python 4-5 +DERBY/ MICA combo can do to the opposition

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Why not equip tejas with MICA

MICA is French Missile

LCA uses Indian Israeli HYBRID radar which is based on ELTA 2032

So the thing is that the RADAR supplier insists on his own missiles hence DERBY ; PYTHON
on LCA

Israel and Russia both refused to integrate Russian R 77 on LCA

Similarly we use R 77 and other Russian missiles on SU 30

However India can use its own ASTRA on LCA

That has been accepted by Israel

IAF will use

1 Meteor and MICA on Rafale
2 Astra ; R 77 ; R27 on SU 30
3 ASRAAM on Jaguar
4 MICA on Mirage 2000
5 R77 on Mig 21 and Mig 29
6 Astra ;Derby Python on LCA

 

[cerberus]

MICA is French Missile

LCA uses Indian Israeli HYBRID radar which is based on ELTA 2032

So the thing is that the RADAR supplier insists on his own missiles hence DERBY ; PYTHON
on LCA

Israel and Russia both refused to integrate Russian R 77 on LCA

Similarly we use R 77 and other Russian missiles on SU 30

However India can use its own ASTRA on LCA

That has been accepted by Israel

IAF will use

1 Meteor and MICA on Rafale
2 Astra ; R 77 ; R27 on SU 30
3 ASRAAM on Jaguar
4 MICA on Mirage 2000
5 R77 on Mig 21 and Mig 29
6 Astra ;Derby Python on LCA

What are you talking about LCA was integrated with R73 with HMS which was IAF requirement and shifted LCA IOC-2 Deadline

Please go through LCA IOC-2 brochure

Present situation is ,LCA only have capability to fire R-73

And integration of Derby BVR with LCA is as FAR as MICA IS.

PS: There is nothing about Israel will here The only will important here is of IAF Is a original customer.

 

[Didact]

Why not equip tejas with MICA
Why IAF going for to different types of missiles in both WVR & BVR Combat.

Any opinions Guys

This decision to opt for a multitude of AAMs in both WVR and BVR catgory is a very carefully thought out strategy by the IAF. There are two primary reasons for this.

1. Ensuring availability of spares & maintenance for atleast a part of the AAM inventory at all times, including when under sanctions. Another way of looking at it is to provide adequate diversification of sources to mitigate any problems in the producer side.

An example of this is the current Ukrainian crisis. Now Ukraine is (or maybe was) the source for the R-27 series of medium range AAMs, which also have some parts from Russia. Given the current scenario, it's very likely that they will not be able to provide adequate and/or timely support/spares for the R-27 inventory. This is mitigated by the R-77 sourced from Russia.

2. Ensuring that the AAM inventory isn't neutralized in one go. It is possible that effective counter-measures against a particular missile/seeker is developed by the opposing side. This will render the entire inventory of IAF AAMs if they are reliant on a single missile & seeker.

Different missiles and multiple seekers for the same missile help mitigate against this possibility. Even if the active seekers for the Super 530D or Derby are neutralized, there are more than adequate options to continue with the air war, without resorting to WW-II style canon shootouts. That's suicidal btw.

There is also the added advantage that an aircraft carrying different AAMs (or AAMs with different seekers) is very hard to jam electronically. Active jamming can easily become the source for Passive homing seekers. (Note: Some modern AAMs have both active and passive modes)

 

[Stephen Cohen]

What are you talking about LCA was integrated with R73 with HMS which was IAF requirement and shifted LCA IOC-2 Deadline

Please go through LCA IOC-2 brochure

Present situation is ,LCA only have capability to fire R-73

And integration of Derby BVR with LCA is as FAR as MICA IS.

R 73 is HOBS missile ; High Off boresight missile which is fired using HMS
ie Helmet Mounted Sights

R 73 is NOT BVRAAM its maximum range is 30 KM

LCA will fire Derby / Python ie 50 KM Range BVRAAM by December

And Later on the 80 KM ASTRA will be used

 

[IND151]

what makes you think that all the best air to air missiles in indian innoventory wont be integrated into LCA project in deu course of time ?

LCA will get Derby and may be Astra too.

Now whether that will be Astra I or II, remains to be seen.

 

[Manindra]

R 73 is HOBS missile ; High Off boresight missile which is fired using HMS
ie Helmet Mounted Sights

R 73 is NOT BVRAAM its maximum range is 30 KM

LCA will fire Derby / Python ie 50 KM Range BVRAAM by December

And Later on the 80 KM ASTRA will be used

Python -4 is also HOBS missile.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Python -4 is also HOBS missile.

The Python Family has some 5 missiles
We are going to use the Longest range Derby as our BVRAAM in the LCA

And Python 4 along with R 73 for HOBS

 

[Manindra]

The Python Family has some 5 missiles
We are going to use the Longest range Derby as our BVRAAM in the LCA

And Python 4 along with R 73 for HOBS

May be they purchase Python 5 to surprise us.

 

[cerberus]

R 73 is HOBS missile ; High Off boresight missile which is fired using HMS
ie Helmet Mounted Sights

R 73 is NOT BVRAAM its maximum range is 30 KM

LCA will fire Derby / Python ie 50 KM Range BVRAAM by December

And Later on the 80 KM ASTRA will be used

Point here was IAF still have to test Derby & Python-5

There is no point or link were Israel refuse to integrate Any other missiles then their own because its not upto them its on customer which is IAF

LCA is HAL product not IAI

IAF is orignal customer.its on them whether they want to integrate Aim-120 or MICA into their product according to their requirements or other.