Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Hi,

I was wondering:

- Can the Mica aam's be mounted on the F-16?

- Are Mica's a good replacement for the aim-120's?

- Is it likely that the UAE will use the Mica's that came from the Mirage 2000-9 deal on the F-16's?

Let me know what you know... Wink

F-16.net Sponsor

Hi Janhas,

Yes, MICA's can be fired from the F-16. It's just a software issue. Are they comparable to the AIM-120? Well, I haven't read a lot about the MICA missile, so I honestly wouldn't now at this moment.

Greets

Yes, the MICA can be used on F-16s. However, it would require more than a sofware change to do so if you want the missile to be effective on long-range shots: a special emitter fitted on the firing aircraft would be needed to refresh targeting information before the missile can use its own radar.

The MICA is smaller (length 3.1m, span 0.33m, diameter 0.16m) and lighter (110kg) than the AMRAAM. Moreover, it was designed to be more agile and thus can also be used as a dogfight missile. A RF or a IR seeker can be used (only the RF version is in service now).

The MICA has a limited combat range compared to the AMRAAM, as it is only 50km, and it is more expensive (lower numbers produced).

The performance of the seeker of the MICA is classified, I think it must comparable to the radar of the AMRAAM, but it is only my own guess Wink

.

I doubt that the UAE will try to mount MICAs on F-16s: it would cost them a lot for no real gain in combat. But they could do it if they wanted to.

The Meteor should have two advantages over the AMRAAMs when it enters service: a longer range, as requirements asked for 100km range (but at the time improved AMRAAMs could have a similar range), and, above all, a superior engine. This engine will not burn in few seconds just after fire like most of missile engines, on the contrary it will be shut during most of the flight on BVR shots. The missile will glide until it comes close to the target, then the engine will start again. Doing so the missile will keep a lot of energy even at the end of its flight, therefore keeping all its maneuverability, which should drastically extend the no-escape zone over other missiles.
Anyway, this comparison is only valid if you forget the F-22 because the stealthiness and the high speed of the Raptor would completely change the game.

Forum Veteran Joined: Nov 07, 2003 - 09:12 PM Posts: 901

Wildcat, I guess the F-22 is not as affordable as the F-16.

Thanks for the short write-up on the MICA, very informative! This article mentions, There are rumors that some foreign F-16s have been qualified for the new medium-range Matra MICA AAM. I wonder which operator(s) that might be.

cheers,

Well hearing the news that foreign F-16's are now qualified to use the Mica is a good reason to believe F-16's will use that missile. Mica's use the French designed databus calles "digibus" and that is not compatible with the standard MIL-STD 1553B databus. So doing al lot of work getting those Mica usable means only one thing: Mica's will be used on F-16's. UAE is a good candidate then. If war breaks out between UAE + allies and Israel the US will stop deliveries of ammunition and spare parts. France might not do this, typical, and the Block 60 F-16's with Mica's are still a great threat to deal with. But this is hypothetical...

Yeah, France sold Mirage 2000-5 and -9 (MICA equipped versions) mostly because of its missile. UAE and Taiwan bought Mirage 2000 merely to be sure that the United States would not prevent them from having modern BVR missiles: the Mirage 2000 is a good aircraft, with a very good radar (probably a little better than the APG-68 for AA purpose), but the Viper is at least as good, cheaper, has a longer combat range and carries a heavier bomb load.

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Desert Falcon & Mica?