Page 31 - ADT JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

production to a greater rate than BQM-167 subscale drone, resulting It can also be fired at targets
ever before in the programme’s his- in a “kill” of the aerial target longest behind the aircraft using information
tory. Over the course of 2022 and known air-to-air missile shot at that transmitted by Link 16 (datalink) by
2023, Raytheon received orders time. another aircraft.
worth US$2.12 billion for the 5th
generation Beyond Visual Range
Air-To-Air Missile (BVRAAM). Current variants of the AIM-120 in The latest version of the MICA and
service are integrated on 14 plat- one that promises to be a significant
forms - F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike upgrade is the MICA NG (Missile
The AIM-120D-3 features upgraded Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 d’Interception et de Combat Aérien
circuit cards in the guidance sec- C/D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Nouvelle Génération). A devel-
tion and was developed under Hornet, F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter opmental contract for the MICA
the Form, Fit, Function Refresh Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, Panavia NG was awarded to MBDA by
(F3R) programme, which allows for Tornado and Harrier Jump Jet. The the French Defence Procurement
continuous agile software improve- missiles are in operational use in 42 Agency DGA (Direction Générale
ments. The missile features a total countries. The AMRAAM missile is de l’Armement) in late 2018.
of 15 upgraded circuit cards devel- also the only radar-guided air-to-air Deliveries are slated to begin in
oped with model-based systems missile qualified on the F-35 Joint 2026, with the MICA NG to arm
engineering initiatives, uses new Strike Fighter. the current and future versions
processors and the latest System of the Rafale fighter jet. A total
Improvement Programme-3F soft- of 567 MICA NGs are planned to
ware. All production AMRAAM D3/ Multirole Missile be acquired by the French armed
C8 variants will incorporate F3R MBDA’s MICA (interception missile, forces.
functionality, with the AIM-120 C-8 combat and self-defence missile)
variant destined for international is the primary BVRAAM and Close
customers. Combat Missile(CCM) fitted on the MBDA is undertaking an extensive
Rafale and upgraded variants of the redesign of the current MICA family
Mirage 2000. The missile features a but retaining the same aerodynam-
In April 2021, the USAF’s 28th Test modular design for its two variants: ics, mass and centre of gravity,
and Evaluation Squadron partnered MICA EM (active radar homing) and so as to minimise the amount of
with the 83d Fighter Weapons MICA IR (heat-seeking) versions adaptation required to integrate the
Squadron for an AIM-120 AMRAAM for beyond visual range (BVR) and missile on existing platforms and
launch from an F-15C Eagle at a within visual range (WVR) combat. launchers. Just as it was with its

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