As part of efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities, Dassault Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters from the French Air and Space Force have achieved a new operational milestone by successfully launching MICA IR air-to-air missiles against simulated high-altitude targets. The missile launches, conducted on June 23 from Air Base 120 in Cazaux, took place as part of a joint exercise with the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). The test involved intercepting experimental balloons operating at altitudes between 20 and 100 kilometers—a domain that represents a new frontier for French air defense.
The operation was carried out off the coast of the Bay of Biscay, in western France, in an air and maritime training zone specifically designated for the occasion. This marked the first time that French combat aircraft engaged real targets at such altitudes using infrared-guided missiles. The MICA IR missiles used—manufactured by MBDA—had been upgraded with enhanced seeker and target acquisition systems, allowing them to engage low-thermal-signature targets in the upper layers of the atmosphere. The participating fighters also flew extended high-altitude flight profiles to optimize interception effectiveness under non-conventional firing conditions.
The missile firing campaign aimed to validate three key capabilities: the detection of high-altitude flying objects using radar surveillance systems; the ability to intercept diverse threats; and the capacity to operate effectively in this new domain. These advances strengthen France’s permanent air security posture, under the responsibility of the Air Defense and Air Operations Command (CDAOA), which maintains constant readiness to respond to any type of threat over national territory.
The success of the launches was made possible through the joint efforts of the Air and Space Force, the Directorate General of Armaments, CNES, and defense industry partners including Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Safran, and Thales. Cooperation among these entities ensured the coordination of the technical and logistical aspects required to carry out the operation.
The tests demanded significant adaptations—not only to the missiles and radars currently in service, but also in the preparation of unprecedentedly large air and maritime exclusion zones. This planning was conducted in close coordination with the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture, the French Navy, and other government agencies responsible for airspace and maritime safety. The exercise highlights the French Armed Forces’ ability to innovate and anticipate emerging threats.
Images used for illustrative purposes. Cover credit: French Air and Space Force.
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