IAF and MBDA sign pact for indigenous MICA missile maintenance hub in India

Direct fact

In May 2026, the Indian Air Force and MBDA signed an agreement to establish an indigenous Maintenance, Repair and Mid-Life Overhaul facility for MICA missiles in India.

Key specifics

• The facility will be set up, operated and maintained by the Indian Air Force.
• MBDA will supply machinery, data packages, tools and technical training.
• MICA is used on Rafale and upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft.
• The RF MICA uses a radar seeker, while the IR MICA uses a dual-waveband imaging infrared seeker.
• The missile entered the IAF in 2016, and Rafale with MICA was inducted in September 2020.

Exam lens

Question type: defence technology and missile systems; remember IAF, MBDA, MRO, 2016, and September 2020. TNPSC may ask which missile has RF and IR variants and on which aircraft it is used.