Have you considered a lengthened ASRAAM with a radar seeker? Or a CAMM with some AAM modifications?
The CAMM+ASRAAM inspired missile should be able to meet your needs.
I think their wingspans are 45cm.
MBDA to develop the next generation of the MICA missile
- Thread starter Ashwin
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Have you considered a lengthened ASRAAM with a radar seeker? Or a CAMM with some AAM modifications?
The CAMM+ASRAAM inspired missile should be able to meet your needs.
I think their wingspans are 45cm.
Yes, its a good suggestion. But the problem is range which will remain lower than MICA and also the length.
Maybe they should look to revise the fins as shown below. This will help reduce the span while increasing the fin area.
Aleternately, they can retain the shape of the fin, reduce the span and yet have similar area of the fin as shown below.
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already sold to Egypt navy ....
Egypte : MBDA monte à bord des frégates allemandes MEKO avec le VL-Mica NG
MBDA a réussi à faire monter le missile surface-air VL Mica NG à bord des Meko allemandes achetées par l’Égypte. Une commande qui ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour le Rafale.
www.latribune.fr
ASRAAM is 2.9m and 166mm. MICA is 3.1m and 160mm. CAMM is 3.2m and 166mm. In fact I think CAMM is the extended ASRAAM, so the aerodynamics related work is pretty much ready for a longer ASRAAM.
ASRAAM's range is lower because it uses a less powerful motor that sacrifices speed for agility. So all you need is a more powerful motor that will allow mach 4+ speed, which should take care of the range.
Will net you a good deal on the MICA with smaller fins if there's a competitor available with something similar.
MICA is a very formidable missile and its NG version will have the range which will make it most suitable for any 5th Gen aircraft. The combat between stealth aircraft using passive targeting will happen at much closer distances and just beyond the perphery of visual combat. The missile which has a range slightly more than the detection range of IRST will be a far better option. MICA-NG will be in that category. So it is very important that MBDA reduces the span to make it fit inside the weapon bays of stealth fighters.You should ask HAL to make the change
"In surface-to-air mode, the MICA NG will be able to intercept targets over 40 km away"
The problem is they do not have such a requirement at this time. So you will have to specifically ask for its development.
MBDA is also producing missiles for UK F-35s. They already have plans to reduce the fin span of meteor to fit inside the bays of F35. By reducing the fin span of MICA-NG they will be able to offer a better missile than ASRAAM for internal bays of F22/F35 and also the 6th Gen fighter they are planning.
The Americans will never allow the integration of French weapons on the F-35 though. And the next French fighter is 20 years away. Even a drone would be 10 years away. I think you have to make a contingency plan for it.
One of MICA's "innovations" lies in its long-cord wings, which reinforce the missile's structure, making it possible to replace some of the tube with propellant, and this explains why this small 110kg missile can tickle large 180kg missiles in range.
On the other hand, it is not compatible with folding wings. And if we modify the body of MICA so that it does not twist without the rigidity of its "structural" wings, we would probably obtain a missile with too short a range to be of any interest in the face of other cheaper alternatives.
A new missile would have to be developed around this concept. And this missile already exists in MBDA's catalogue, the CAMM.
I will disagree with you here. The tail fins of MICA can be very easily adjusted to the new shape I suggested, especially the second option as it will increase the rigidity of the fins due to smaller span, increase the area of the fins and yet maintain same aerodynamical properties due to swept edges. Please notice that the changes are at the extreme end of the fins wirthout disturbing any other structure including that of fin attachment points or their shapes.
I was not answering to the new shape you suggested, but to the idea to have folding wing like CAMM...
I dont want folding wings for MICA NG. That will compromise its structural strength and also reduce its ability to pull high G during end game. That will be very stupid modification.
You are probably right, but you can't change the mains wings.
MBDA launches the new VL MICA NG air defence system
On the occasion of the Euronaval-Online exhibition, MBDA announces the commercial launch of its new VL MICA NG air defence system.
The VL MICA NG system is based on the integration into the existing VL MICA system of the MICA NG (New Generation) anti-air missile, which began development in 2018 primarily to equip France’s Rafale combat aircraft. The VL MICA system family – now adopted, in its naval or land-based versions, by 15 armed forces around the world – will consequently benefit from enhanced potential to counter future threats.
About the VL MICA NG system, MBDA CEO Eric Béranger declared: “After two years of development on the New Generation MICA missile, we have acquired a deep understanding of the performance of this brand new air-to-air missile which allows us, in full confidence, to market its integration into VL MICA ground-to-air or surface-to-air defence systems. The total compatibility between the two generations of missile will allow armed forces to combine them with their existing systems, thus maximizing their return on investments.
” Thanks to the technological innovations it incorporates, the new VL MICA NG system offers improved capabilities to handle atypical targets (UAVs, small aircraft) as well as future threats, characterised by increasingly low observable infrared and radio frequency signatures. Additionally, it will be able to intercept at longer distances the ‘conventional’ targets (aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and antiship missiles) already addressed by the current VL MICA system.
The dimensions of the MICA NG munition remain unchanged, allowing it to be integrated into existing VL MICA launchers. The existing missile data link mechanisms are compatible with the increased kinematic performance of the missiles, enabling current VL MICA systems to be upgraded to VL MICA NG standard by simple software updates.
About the MICA NG missile
Based on an entirely new design, the MICA NG missile inherits the external dimensions and unique concept that has made the MICA anti-air missile such a success for a quarter of a century. This concept means MICA features either an infrared or a radio frequency seeker on the same common missile body, allowing the operator, at the moment of firing, to select the best option to respond to the tactics adopted by the adversary.
On the MICA NG, a new infrared seeker based on a matrix sensor will provide increased sensitivity, while a new radio frequency seeker with an active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) will allow for smart detection strategies. The lower volume of electronic components will enable the MICA NG to carry a larger load of propellant, significantly extending its range, and the new dual-pulse rocket motor will provide additional energy to the missile at the end of its flight, improving its manoeuvrability and its ability to intercept targets at long range.
In surface-to-air mode, the MICA NG will be able to intercept targets over 40 km away. Finally, maintenance and ownership costs will be significantly reduced thanks to internal sensors that will monitor the status of the munition throughout its life cycle.
The MICA NG missile will be available in series production from 2026.
MBDA betting on 3 SRSAM:
1. CAMM
2. VL-MICA NG
3. CAMM-ER
Although, each system is country specific.
The advantage of the VL MICA NG is that the VL MICA can be upgraded simply by changing the missile that is compatible with the MICA and installing a new software version on the same hardware.