I had sent a suggestion about this, which I proposed in mid-May 2025, but for some obscure reason it was rejected. They made me change a few minor things, then rejected it for “bundled content” even though it was clearly a multi-vehicle SAM. And by the time I’d fought to get it published, you’d beaten me to it.
Spoiler
The French Air and Space force Multi-Vehicle MRAD
By THALES & MBDA
VL-MICA the Vertical Launch MICA EM & IR
Hello Miss and Sir.
Welcome to this suggestion about the French multi-vehicle short range air defense system. Here, I’ll introduce you to the surface-to-air missile system, its genesis, and its relevance to War Thunder. I hope you enjoy reading.
HYSTORY
In the early 1980s, the United States proposed to the Europeans that they design a short-range air-to-air missile to replace their AIM-9 Sidewinder, while they studied a medium-range missile that would succeed the AIM-7 Sparrow. The idea was to separate developments and then cross-purchase them.
France rejected this proposal and decided to develop a missile capable of both missions, thanks to two interchangeable seekers: the MICA EM replaced the Super 530D medium-range missile and the MICA IR replaced the Magic II (a close-range missile). The MICA was first fired in 1992 and entered service in 1996.
The surface-to-air version of the already well-known MICA missile, the VL-MICA, was developed with MBDA’s own funds and presented to the public for the first time at a defense exhibition in Singapore in February 2000.
In its land-based version, the VL-MICA features a “fire-and-forget” firing capability in addition to the data link. The system is capable of targeting all types of aerial targets, except ballistic missiles, particularly aircraft with a low radar signature, helicopters, drones, or munitions fired at long distances (stand-off) such as precision-guided bombs, cruise missiles, or anti-radar missiles. It has a useful 96% first hit interception capability of 20 km. It is particularly effective against saturating attacks coming from all directions thanks to the MICA missile’s intrinsic multi-target capabilities and the vertical launch system, which allows for a salvo to be fired in a very short time in all threat inbound sectors. The VL-MICA land-based system consists of a ground command and fire control vehicle, a vehicle carrying a four-dimensional radar for surveillance and target detection Thales Ground Master 200, and two to six vertical launchers also integrated on trucks or from eight to twenty-four missiles.
It should be noted that the VL-MICA system can integrate several quadruple remotely operated MISTRAL 3 ASPIC SHORAD System
The VL-MICA launcher can also be integrated and managed by the new version of the SAMP/T system (SAMP/T-NG), which features a workstation for an operator who can control other short-range interception vectors, including the MICA and the MISTRAL 3 very short-range, within a single multi-layered bubble, avoiding the need for multiple radars.
In France, the VL-MICA system, equipped with MICA-EM and MICA-IR missiles, has been in service since June 2024. Its first operational deployment was during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to enhance event security.
In the French Air and Space Force, the fire control modules and radar modules are mounted on Renault Kerax 8x4 chassis, and the erectile launchers, comprising four missiles each, are mounted on Renault Kerax 6x4 chassis.
Specifications
Radar
The Thales Ground Master 200 is a medium-range gallium nitride 4D active antenna array (AESA) radar. It can simultaneously detect and track threats with low Radar Cross Section (RCS), flying at low altitude (cruise missiles) or at very low speed (Class 1 drones, combat helicopters appearing unexpectedly, etc.) as well as threats from diving missiles, arriving in large numbers or flying at high speed. The radar, once deployed, is at a height of 8 meters above the ground.
Based on a Renault Kerax 380.35 8x4 chassis(both front axles are driven) with a 11.1 L inline six-cylinder diesel MIDR engine with 381 hp at 2,000 rpm and an air-cooled turbocharger coupled to a sixteen-speed transmission wich has an inter-wheel and inter-axle differential locking system to enable it to operate on difficult terrain. It feature a max travel speed of 90km/h, with a max vehicle weight of 35 tonnes, for a current overall weight of around 23t in combat order. The radar, its electronic and computer systems are packaged in a module the size of a single 20-foot ISO container weighing less than 10 tonnes Self-sufficient in energy because it has a generator. It is operated by two members.
| Ground Master 200 |
|
| Surveillance range |
250 Km |
| Fire control range |
100 Km |
| Detection roof |
80,000 ft |
| Band |
S |
| vertical coverage angle |
70° |
| time per revolution |
1.5 s |
| resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECCM) |
yes |
| Detection performance |
Air Breathing Targets (ABTs); Helicopters; Cruise Missiles; Sea Surface Targets; Rockets; Artillery and Mortar (RAM); Drones from Class I (Mini) to Class IV (HALE) |
Missiles
Based on a Renault Kerax 380.26 6x4 chassis(both rear axles are driven) with a 11.1 L inline six-cylinder diesel MIDR engine with 381 hp at 2,000 rpm and an air-cooled turbocharger coupled to a sixteen-speed transmission wich has an inter-wheel and inter-axle differential locking system to enable it to operate on difficult terrain. It feature a max travel speed of 90km/h, with a max vehicle weight of 26 tonnes, for a current overall weight of around 14t in combat order. The missiles are packaged in packs of 4 containers of 1 missile each, mounted on a hydraulic erectile structure.
| MICA-EM |
|
| Missile mass |
112Kg |
| Container + missile mass |
480Kg |
| Guidance |
in-flight lock-on active radar doppler seeker + intertial guidance + DL with in-flight target data update |
| Band |
I |
| Missile Lock-on-after-launch range |
16 Km |
| Range |
over than 20 km / 20km 96% first-hit kill guarantee |
| Max speed |
4 mach |
| Overload |
50 G |
| Guidance time |
70 s |
| explosive trigger |
RF Proximity fuze & impact fuse |
| explosive type |
PBXN High explosive focused fragmentation warhead |
| explosive mass |
12 kg |
| TNT equivalent |
14 kg |
| MICA-IR |
|
| Missile mass |
112Kg |
| Container + missile mass |
480Kg |
| Guidance |
in-flight lock-on after launch IR all aspect seeker + Intertial guidance + DL with in-flight target data update |
| Band |
IR + IRCCM |
| Missile Lock-on-after-launch range |
6 Km all-aspect & 11km rear-aspect |
| Range |
over than 20 km / 20km 96% first-hit kill guarantee |
| Max speed |
4 mach |
| Overload |
50 G |
| Guidance time |
70 s |
| explosive trigger |
RF Proximity fuze & impact fuse |
| explosive type |
PBXN High explosive focused fragmentation warhead |
| explosive mass |
12 kg |
| TNT equivalent |
14 kg |
Gallery
Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Zjlj1eWhU
Here is the only footage i found about VL-MICA, we can see in certain scenes the french serviced vehicles.
The GM200 as it is is service in french air and space forces
The GM200 mid-race being deployed
The GM200 in use by french air and space forces
here is an older GM200 which has been sunbathing, this one is part of a SAMP/T battery and not a MICA-VL one.
The Thales team presenting its Ground Master 200 at an exhibition
a slightly more detailed view of the erector and the pack of 4 MICA missiles
The launcher as it is in service with the French air and space forces, shown at an exhibition
release of a MICA-IR from the ground launcher
A 3D rendering of the machine, of relative quality
In war thunder
In War-Thunder, with the arrival of the new multi-vehicle air defense systems in the Leviathans major update, it was time for me to offer the French equivalent to the German IRIS-T SLMs, American SL-AMRAAMs or UK’s Sky sabre and others… We now know that France and Italy had the SAMP/T in the 09/2025 update, which is not really the equivalent of an IRIS-T SLM or Sky Sabre, but rather a long-range defense complex like “MIM-104 Patriot” or “SA-10B Grumble B” wich are not yet in game… What I am proposing here is truly the direct equivalent.
I propose 1 GM200 + 2 Vertical launchers for 8x MICA, which in my opinion gives real coherence to the whole, and will allow the French tree to continue to be competitive in all aspects of the game.
Sources for data and pictures
VL MICA | MBDA
https://www.mbda-systems.com/sites/mbda/files/2024-06/2020%20VL%20MICA%20datasheet.pdf
MICA — Wikipédia
Eurosatory 2024 : les premiers VL MICA livrés aux armées françaises - FOB - Forces Operations Blog
Mistral (missile) — Wikipédia
Ukrainian Defence Ministry Signs Contract with Thales for Short-range Air Defence System - MilitaryLeak.COM
Ground Master 200 — Wikipédia
https://www.mbda-systems.com/sites/mbda/files/2024-07/2023%20Mistral%203%20datasheet.pdf
MISTRAL 3 | MBDA
Aspic anti-aircraft missile system | Missilery.info
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/mise-en-oeuvre-d-un-missile-satcp-mistral-sur-montage-aspic-lors-des-presentations-de-materiel-de-mourmelon.html
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/les-radars-ground-master-200-400.html (video footage, a must to watch!)
GM 200 - 400 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants
Thomson-CSF Mygale - French Air Defence System
VL Mica
https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/renault-kerax-8x8-heavy-utility-truck-3d-model-1790689 (3D model of Renault Kerax 8x4 nude chassis)
