【U.S. Military Reveals AIM-424 Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile with Range Over 460 km, Claims Superiority Over All Chinese Counterparts】

According to Naval News on August 23, 2026: The AIM-424 Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM), secretly developed by Raytheon Technologies’ Advanced Systems division, boasts a 13.5-inch diameter and aerodynamic design enabling it to engage targets beyond 250 nautical miles (463 km)—a range exceeding "any threat," according to Raytheon President Phil Jasper.

The U.S. Navy’s latest air-to-air missile, the AIM-424 "Malice," was developed for current and next-generation fighter aircraft in both the Air Force and Navy. As the Pentagon seeks to enhance combat capabilities for high-end warfare in the Pacific region, the missile draws upon efforts dating back to the mid-2010s aimed at developing long-range air-to-air missiles to counter China.

The existence of the missile was first reported by Aviation Week at the “Tailhook” Naval Aviation Symposium held in Reno, Nevada—a conference dedicated exclusively to naval aviation.

Manufactured by Raytheon, the AIM-424 can strike targets over 250 nautical miles (463 km) away, leveraging its 13.5-inch diameter and aerodynamic shape—clearly designed for extended range. This range surpasses the estimated ranges of all currently known Chinese air-to-air missiles, widely regarded as the primary threat to U.S. Pacific Air Forces.

In its recently updated weapons portfolio overview, the U.S. Navy stated: "The LRAAM maintains the Department of Defense's advantage of detecting, engaging, and destroying threats first by providing our pilots with greater operational reach, enhanced survivability, and increased tactical flexibility in air combat. Designed for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation platforms, the LRAAM is built for today’s and tomorrow’s air wings."

A U.S. official familiar with the program confirmed to Naval News that the missile’s range and speed exceed those of the currently deployed AIM-174B. According to the official, specialized aerodynamic fins and strakes allow the missile to maintain significant maneuverability despite its larger size compared to Raytheon’s long-deployed AIM-120 AMRAAM and Lockheed Martin’s upcoming AIM-260 JATM. This retained maneuverability could enable the missile to engage targets comparable in size to fighter aircraft even at its larger dimensions.

Two U.S. officials familiar with project development details revealed that a dedicated network development team has been working since January this year to build missile infrastructure compatible with a wide range of aircraft and shared joint systems across U.S. Air Force and Navy forces.

The broad array of aircraft includes the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47, the U.S. Navy’s F-35C and F/A-18, and potentially the future F/A-XX. Images released by the Navy have disclosed at least one tethered flight test traceable to April 2026. Early August reportedly saw integration testing conducted on the F-35. Naval News learned that the missile’s development timeline extends far beyond recent announcements.

Raytheon President confirmed the missile’s existence in a statement provided to Naval News.

"Strengthening fleet defense and maintaining superiority is critical in countering rapidly emerging long-range air-to-air threats," said Phil Jasper, President of Raytheon Technologies (a RTX subsidiary). "Our advanced technology team’s approach achieves this goal through the development of the AIM-424. The AIM-424 adds range, lethality, and operational effectiveness to Navy forces, delivering a generational leap in air dominance capability—its range exceeds any threat."

The AIM-174B was previously the most advanced air-to-air missile in the U.S. Navy’s arsenal, revealed to be fielded operationally in 2024 as a transitional solution for future capabilities over the past decade. 'It exists. It’s an operational capability. As you’ve seen, it’s been demonstrated and deployed in the region—and there’s more behind it,' said Admiral Keith Haskins, Commander of the Naval Air Weapons Center (NAWCWD), at the WEST 2025 conference in San Diego, California, in 2025. NAWCWD is the same Navy team responsible for developing and deploying the AIM-174B for combat use.

Beyond the AIM-174 and AIM-424, the Pentagon continues refining its Air Force Long-Range Weapon (AFLRW) requirements, seeking an air-to-air missile with a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km) for the U.S. Air Force.

A U.S. Navy official provided the following statement to Naval News on Saturday:

"The U.S. Navy is developing the AIM-424 Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM), a next-generation weapon designed to strengthen fleet defense and maintain decisive air domain superiority against advanced threats. Also known as 'Malice,' the LRAAM directly supports the Department of Defense’s contribution to integrated deterrence by enhancing the range, lethality, and operational effectiveness of Marine Corps and Navy aviation units in protecting fleets, interests, and homeland. Further details regarding specific capabilities and deployment timelines remain classified to safeguard operational security."

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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874320027765892/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author