Indian air force test fires long range air-to-air MICA missile

Indian Air Force has test fired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from a combat aircraft, a statement issued by Indian government's Press Information Bureau said Saturday.

"Tigers - the first squadron of Indian Air Force, successfully fired the recently acquired long range Beyond Visual Range (BAV) air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade aircraft," the statement read.

Indian Defense officials said the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at low altitude.

"The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile," the statement said.

The government statement claims, with the success of mission, the IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such long range BVR air-to-air missile.

Earlier on Tuesday India successfully test fired a new surface- to-air missile - Barak-8.

The long-range nuclear capable ballistic missile, developed jointly with Israel, was launched off defence base in Odisha coast from a mobile launcher in the Integrated Test Range (ITR).

（APD）