US Navy Unveils AIM-424 Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile for F/A-18, F-35, F/A-XX

The US Navy has publicly revealed the little-known AIM-424 “Malice” long-range air-to-air missile designed for fourth, fifth, and sixth-generation aircraft at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada. 

Raytheon has been identified as the missile’s developer, which is currently conducting flight testing.

The missile is expected to arm the service’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, as well as the future F/A-XX sixth-generation aircraft, to “strengthen fleet defense and maintain a decisive air domain overmatch against advanced threats,” according to the navy.

Its development timeline has not been divulged, although Aviation Week suggested that the two-stage missile may be related to a Long Range Engagement Weapon concept disclosed in 2017.

Moreover, the US Navy has not made the Malice missile’s deployment timeline or specific capabilities public, citing security reasons. 

The AIM-424 is being designed for greater reach, survivability, and tactical flexibility, supporting Washington’s efforts to extend its strike power from aircraft carriers in response to threats posed by China’s long-range capabilities. 

The 13.5-foot (4-meter) missile features a 13.5-inch (34.2-centimeter) diameter and 26.2-inch (66.5-centimeter) wingspan. 

It can be stored in an F-35C fighter’s internal weapons bay or loaded externally on an F/A-18E aircraft.

Weighing 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), the missile carries a blast fragmentation warhead and is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor.

Malice can cover ranges beyond 250 nautical miles (463 kilometers/288 miles), potentially giving it greater reach than comparable air-to-air missiles in service, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-174B, both of which were also developed by Raytheon.