MICA IR happens to have datalink which the others don’t and more range (although ASRAAM has a lot of range as well).
The other thing is that 8x MICA IR can be carried by the Rafale while the same can’t occur for the EFT when it comes to the ASRAAM/IRIS-T. So more IIR missiles can be carried by the Rafale which contains datalink and ability to update mid-course even with the IRST while PIRATE can only initially fire it but cannot update mid-course which can mean ASRAAM and IRIS-T never finds the target in the first place.
Then there’s the issue of MICA NG IR, which contains 60% greater range. In the future we could see a potential loadout of 8x MICA NG IR.
F.3R serves as SOP (Standard of Preparation), basically as basis for export since ~2016. Indias EH has, unlike standard F.3R, hardware and other features from F.4, making it its own standard.
It has a LOAL feature would would suggest some sort of data link, it can also be guided by the PIRATE system
Never finds its target…no way it can track those massive heat emissions…
“The missile can be deployed using lock before launch capability to engage targets in the forward hemisphere. It can be launched in ‘lock after launch’ mode to engage targets beyond the seeker acquisition range.”
“The ASRAAM is guided by an advanced, accurate focal plane array Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker developed by Raytheon. The passive homing guidance system provides the ability to significantly track, acquire and engage targets beyond visual range (BVR) under severe clutter and countermeasures environmental situations.”
This is all on the first version of ASRAAM considering we are now on Block 5/6 the missile will have only improved. It will be challenging to hide from an ASRAAM.
IRIS-T is a close range HOB similar to the AIM9X it will excel in close range engagements
Don’t be so quick to dismiss what other nations have.
Low altitude and the ranges the MICA excels at they really are a few changes in direction into the notch some chaff and change altitude and they will miss in most cases. It’s even easier if the shot comes from below as the seeker is not in PD filter mode and chaff will defeat it
There is not any reliable evidence to suggest it does. IIRC there is some evidence to suggest the Block 6 might have it, but MBDA have been very tight lipped about what Block 6 actually involved, other than it being a bunch of improvements and a new seeker.
Not really, it could just be going off inertial guidance.
He mean it is possible that if fired at long range on inertial guidance the target could have moved by the time the missile is within range to lock on.
I assumed before that ASRAAM had datalink, but then I was corrected. I couldn’t even find the datalink receiver on the missile itself. Missiles typically have datalink receivers which are visible on the rear. Here are some examples:
You’re still wrong. The AIM-120 is reliable out to almost 20km, whereas the MICA barely gets to 10. The AIM-120 is significantly better at medium ranges than the MICA.
Interestingly the CAMM and Sea Ceptor have 2 way data link.
And they are both based off the ASRAAM the functionality is there if they wanted to add it.
It should be noted that CAMM is confirmed to have a two-way datalink, but does not appear to have a visible datalink antenna. Some images of CAMM do show four bumps located around the tail of the missile (it’s surprisingly hard to find clear photos of CAMM), but they appear to be the exhaust ports for the turnover pack.
Meteor is also another notable example without a visible datalink antenna (IIRC it is mounted inside one of the intake fairings).
