LONDON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- European missile-maker MBDA says its VL MICA missile was recently fired from an ocean patrol vessel of the Royal Navy of Oman in an operational test.
The short-range, fire-and-forget air defense weapon was launched in the Mediterranean under supervision of the French armament agency, DGA, from a new Khareef class boat built for Oman by BAE Systems.
The VL MICA successfully intercepted and destroyed the target, which was simulating a sea-skimming, anti-ship missile.
"The success of this firing is evidence of the operational capability of the RNO with its new vessel and weapon system," MBDA said.
VL MICA is vertically launched from a canister, which is also used for storage purposes. It can be equipped with either infrared or radar seekers.
MBDA said the MICA – used by a dozen armed forces -- also comes in air-launched and ground-launched variants.
Additional details of the missile test from the Omani vessel were not disclosed.
