VL MICA Short Range Air defense system in Saudi Arabia

[The SC]

With a range of 20 km and a height of 9 km
Mach3 Speed
50 G maneuverability
12 kg warhead
Coverage area 360 degrees
Two types: MICA /RF (active) and MICA /IR (passive)

The MBDA vertical launch Mica short-range air defence system, VL Mica SHORAD, is built in ground and ship-launched versions. The modular VL Mica system includes a tactical operations centre with up to four multi-round missile launchers. MBDA displayed the system for the first time in February 2000 at the Asian Aerospace 2000 Show in Singapore. The first vertical launch of the VL Mica missile took place in 2001 at the Centre d’Essais des Landes range in France.

In December 2005, MBDA was awarded a contract for the development of the system (previously a private venture) for all three French forces. VL Mica would be used to protect air bases for the Air Force, deployed forces for the Army and as point defence for major surface vessels for the Navy.

The land-based missile system is mounted on a 5t truck. The system gives 360° coverage against fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and air launched missiles.
VL Mica vertical launch short-range air defence system

The VL Mica SHORAD system is fire and forget and has all-weather, day and night capability to carry out simultaneous engagement of multiple targets.

VL Mica uses the air-to-air Mica missile that has been ordered by the French Air Force and Navy for Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft and by the air forces of UAE, Greece and Taiwan for the Mirage 2000.

In February 2005, the system, mounted on an ACMAT multi-role vehicle of the French Army, was demonstrated for the Indian Air Force. MBDA and Bharat Dynamics Ltd are proposing VL Mica for the Indian requirement for a low-level quick reaction air defence missile.

In May 2006, VL Mica was successfully fired from a navalised launcher. VL Mica destroyed a target representing a sea-skimming anti-ship missile at a range of 10km. In October 2008, a 14th test firing from a navalised launcher took place, hitting the target at a range of 12 km.

In July 2006, VL Mica was selected by the Royal Navy of Oman to equip its three new Project Khareef ocean patrol vessels to be built by VT Shipbuilding. The system has also been ordered by an unnamed export customer.
Mica vertical launch missile

The 112kg vertical launch missile is built in two versions, an active radar Mica RF with a pointed nose cone and a passive infrared imaging Mica IR with a rounded nose. Mica RF has been in production since 1996 and the Mica IR since 2000. Both sensors are robust against jamming. The slim body structure of the missile is identical to that of the original air-to-air Mica. The four L-shaped guidance fins installed at the rear of the body are movable.
"The 112kg vertical launch missile is built in two versions."

Mica RF is equipped with a programmable J-band, pulse Doppler AD4A radar seeker with a pointed ceramic radome at the nose.

The radar seeker, supplied by Thales and Alenia Marconi Systems, operates at 10GHz to 20GHz. The seeker is of proven design and performance and is also installed in the Aster missile.

The Mica IR uses a Sagem passive dual-band imaging infrared seeker with a rounded infrared-transparent glass dome. The seeker uses closed cycle cooling. The guidance compartment is equipped with a strap down inertial reference system.
The directed splinter fragmentation high explosive blast warhead, weighing 12kg, is supplied by TDA Armements, a joint venture formed by Thales and EADS. The warhead is located behind the seeker and is fitted with an impact fuse and a radar proximity fuse.

A butalite solid propellant booster and sustainer motor, supplied by Protac, is located in the mid-section of the missile. Four slotted vanes on a circular plate over the rear exhaust are efflux deflection vanes which provide thrust vector control. The movable L-shaped guidance fins and the efflux deflection vanes give the missile manoeuvrability up to 50g.
Mica tactical operations centre

The Mica tactical operations centre has up to four truck-mounted multi-round launchers. The launch assembly is installed on a 5t truck and can be loaded with any combination of four Mica RF and Mica IR missiles. The vertical launch system is based on the vertical launch technology developed by BAE Systems for the Seawolf naval air defence missile.

"The VL Mica system can operate alone or integrated into a large widely distributed air defence network."

A distributed architecture system allows target data to be downloaded from a variety of sensors so the VL Mica system can operate alone or integrated into a large widely distributed air defence network.
Operation

The pre-launch target designation is downloaded into the missile. The target designation data can be supplied by a radar or optronic surveillance system.

The missile is launched vertically using thrust vector control. The flight is controlled by the programmable strap down inertial mid course guidance system and then by the terminal homing seeker.

The missile’s butalite solid propellant booster and sustainer motor gives a maximum speed of greater than Mach 3. The maximum target range is 10,000m and 9,000m altitude. The launch rate between firings is two seconds.

https://www.army-technology.com/projects/vlmica/

Description

The MBDA VL MICA (Missile d’interception et de combat aérien, “Interception and Aerial Combat Missile”) is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire VL MICA Vertical Launch System. VL MICA provides an optimum level of defence against a wide range of targets, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. Moreover, its characteristics (fire-and-forget guidance, vertical launch) make it particularly effective against saturation attacks carried out by a large number of low signature targets such as guided bombs or missiles and cruise missiles attacking from any direction (360° coverage). Thanks to its range and altitude, VL MICA’s performance in providing area defence, the protection of highly sensitive civilian or military assets as well as cover for manoeuvring land forces is unmatched by any other low-level air defence system.




Technical Data
Back to top
Missile launcher unit
Vertical Launch MICA (VL MICA) is a short range, ground based air defence system deploying the MICA fire-and-forget missile, currently the only missile in the world capable of being fitted with either a heat-seeking homing head (VL MICA IR) or with an active, radar homing head (VL MICA RF). This unique capability ensures an outstanding kill probably, even in severe IRCM-ECM environments. The latest version of the VL Mica launcher unit uses a Renault truck chassis with each 4 to 6 missile canister mounted at the rear of the chassis.
Missile
The 112kg vertical launch missile is built in two versions, an active radar Mica RF with a pointed nose cone and a passive infrared imaging Mica IR with a rounded nose. Mica RF has been in production since 1996 and the Mica IR since 2000. Both sensors are robust against jamming. The slim body structure of the missile is identical to that of the original air-to-air Mica. The four L-shaped guidance fins installed at the rear of the body are movable.
Command and control vehicles
Organisation of a typical VL MICA unit is based on a vehicle-mounted shelter-protected Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) also known as the Platoon Command Post (PCP). This is capable of carrying out all Command, Control and Coordination functions, including real-time engagement, mission planning, system monitoring and connection with the higher level of command. The TOC remotely controls a tri-dimensional radar mounted on a separate vehicle and three to six vertical launcher units also mounted o vehicles.
At IDEX 2011 defence exhibition, MBDA is revealing two new systems to coordinate the firing of Mistral and VL Mica. The IMCP (Improved Missile Control Post) is the first element of this set up. It integrates, within a shelter mounted on an all-terrain vehicle, a command and control unit and latest generation 3D radar capable of detecting and identifying aerial targets at ranges of 80 km. IMCP is an evolved version of the Mistral Coordination Post of which more than 40 have already been sold. It comprises an operator console very carefully ergonomically designed to provide a work space within which the unit commander can carry out his mission under optimum conditions.
The second new system presented by MBDA is the PCP (Platoon Command Post). This modular command system is a direct derivative of the VL MICA Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) which has been developed in close cooperation with the French Air Force. PCP allows the commander to control multi-layer surface-to-air defence units, linking Mistral and VL MICA missile launchers. The system carries out the interface role between the various units responsible for coordinating the air space and, if necessary, its self-coordination with the PCP units deployed in neighbouring zones. The detection, identification and tracking functions are carried out via a link to the IMCP which, in this case, is completely remote-controlled by one of the three operators manning the PCP.
Combat use
A VL Mica unis consists of mobile launch units, each carrying 4 – 6 launchers and a tactical operation center which also links via fiber-optic line to the remote controlled radar, and via VHF radio link, to the firing units. This structure makes it easy to deploy, easy to integrate in within a wider global air defence structure and gives the system a high level of survivability. A VL MICA unit can ensure seamless area protection versus a wide variety of targets, including fast manoeuvring combat jets and cruise missiles.

Specifications
Back to top

Armament
Four missiles MICA by launcher unit
a
a
Country user
France
Designer Country
France
Radar and support Vehicles
Tactical Operation Centre (TOC) also named Platoon Command Post (PCP), vertical launcher unit and IMCP (Improved Missile Control Post
Crew
3 operators ​

Operationall performance
- 10 min. for full deployment
- 15 minutes for launcher reload
- 4 different targets in 6 seconds.
Weight vehicle
? kg
Speed vehicle
? km/h maximum speed on road
Missile
Range max: 20 km
Altitude max: 9,200 m
Warhead: 12 kg
Vehicle Dimensions on road
Lenght, ? m; Width, ? m; Height, ? m​

https://www.armyrecognition.com/fra...heet_specifications_description_pictures.html

 

[Philip the Arab]

Nice purchase for Saudi Arabia. The altitude of 30000 is useful because that's about the cruise altitude of most fighters jets. Mach 3 is really fast and might be able to even hit maximum speed jets. Do you know how many Saudi Arabia has bought and can these be used in an attack where a army is pushing into enemy territory where jets can be engaged? Does it have an IFF?

 

[The SC]

Nice purchase for Saudi Arabia. The altitude of 30000 is useful because that's about the cruise altitude of most fighters jets. Mach 3 is really fast and might be able to even hit maximum speed jets. Do you know how many Saudi Arabia has bought and can these be used in an attack where a army is pushing into enemy territory where jets can be engaged? Does it have an IFF?

KSA bought a lot of them..
They can be used to protect troops from enemy aircrafts and missiles, both in an attack or defense maneuver..
Yes they have an IFF compatible with other Saudi systems..