The MICA, abbreviated from its full name Missile d'Interception, de Combat et d'Auto-défense or alternate translation is a French anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system manufactured by MBDA France. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System. It is fitted with a thrust vector control (TVC) system. It was developed from 1982 onward by Matra. The first trials occurred in 1991, and the missile was commissioned in 1996 to equip the Rafale and Mirage 2000. It is a replacement for both the Super 530 in the interception role and the Magic II in the dogfighting role.
An air-launched MICA IR on a Dassault Rafale
VL MICA at the Salon du Bourget 2015
Mock-up of a MBDA MICA missile in Taiwan
Thrust vectoring, also known as thrust vector control (TVC), is the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine(s) or motor(s) to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.
Graphite exhaust vanes on a V-2 rocket engine's nozzle
The pre-World War 1, British Army airship Delta, fitted with swiveling propellers
Three experimental thrust vectoring aircraft in flight; from left to right, F-18 HARV, X-31, and F-16 MATV
Sea Harrier FA.2 ZA195 front (cold) vector thrust nozzle