Successful 1st MICA Firings Against Very High Altitude Balloons

On 23 June, French defence procurement agency (DGA) and the French Air Force successfully fired two MICA IR missiles from a Rafale and a Mirage 2000 against balloons at altitudes of over 20 km. These unprecedented tests, carried out from Cazaux air base, with the support of French Space Agency CNES, Dassault Aviation and MBDA, demonstrated the feasibility of neutralising this new type of threat, in an increasingly contested area of conflict. MBDA’s role in this operation demonstrates its reactivity in meeting the evolving needs of the French armed forces, as well as its expertise in protecting sovereign territory.

MBDA's teams were central to the successful firings of the MICA interception and air combat missiles by the French Air Force. They shared their extensive knowledge of threats and their mastery of piloting, guidance and navigation chains in complex environments, pushing back any technological constraints to reach altitudes of over 20 km. This success demonstrates MBDA’s commitment to the DGA, the French armed forces and all its partners.

This operation is part of a ‘very high altitude’ government strategy, presented by France's Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, at the 2025 Paris Air Show. Very high altitude is defined as the area between the sky and space, at distances of between 20 and 100 km above the Earth. Forces operating in this area are able to protect themselves from threats emanating from this zone, but can also act from it. These layers of the atmosphere are increasingly occupied by threats such as espionage and surveillance solutions, including long-endurance balloons and drones, or hypersonic weapon systems, which challenge air defence systems.

As an expert in air defence, in the air and from the ground, MBDA is fully committed to this strategy. MBDA has a complete range of sovereign multi-layer systems to counter these new threats and protect Europe’s skies.

In particular, MBDA is developing capabilities to counter hypersonic threats at very high altitudes. The combat-proven ASTER 30 B1 air defence missile, developed in cooperation between France and Italy, already offers an initial response capability against certain hypersonic threats. MBDA is also developing the next version of this missile, the ASTER B1 NT, which will enable armed forces to protect themselves against the most sophisticated future threats, from highly manoeuvrable targets to the most complex hypersonic weapons. It is the future pillar of European air defence, and will be integrated into the new SAMP/T NG land-based air defence system, being designed for the Italian and French armed forces. Finally, through the European HYDIS project, MBDA is also developing an endo-atmospheric interceptor that will defend wide areas against new hypersonic and ballistic threats, by intercepting them directly at very high altitudes. From 2035 onwards, this will guarantee an unprecedented air defence capability for nations to protect their sovereignty.

MBDA is a key player in this field, with solutions to defend all areas of conflict, from the battlefield to space, including very high altitudes.