The U.S. Navy has introduced a new ultra-long-range air-to-air missile that could give its carrier-based fighters strike targets over 463 kilometers (250 nautical miles or 288 miles) away.
The missile was shown mounted on two Navy carrier aircraft: the F-35C Lightning II and the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
U.S. Navy File Photo – Four AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missiles (LRAAM) are loaded on an F/A-18E Super Hornet for a test event.
(Image credit: U.S. Navy) Testing may start soon The testing of AIM-424 may begin in the winter of 2026.
The AIM-424 has the appearance of a conventional air-to-air missile.
The U.S. Navy has introduced a new ultra-long-range air-to-air missile that could give its carrier-based fighters strike targets over 463 kilometers (250 nautical miles or 288 miles) away. Photos of the AIM-424 Malice were released on August 22, on DVIDS, the Department of Defense’s official media site. The missile was shown mounted on two Navy carrier aircraft: the F-35C Lightning II and the F/A-18E Super Hornet. This is the first clear look at a weapon that could extend the range of U.S. naval aviation.
Raytheon builds long-range weapon Raytheon developed and built the AIM-424 Malice. The missile uses a solid-propellant rocket motor and is designed for long-range flight. The weapon measures 4.11 meters (13.5 feet) in length and has a diameter of 0.34 meters (13.4 inches). Its wingspan is 0.67 meters (2.2 feet), while its launch mass is 680.4 kilograms (1,500 pounds). The missile carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Built by Raytheon, the AIM-424 is capable of hitting targets over 250 nautical miles away, leveraging a 13.5″ diameter and aerodynamic profile that appears to have been built for range. That stated reach would place the weapon beyond estimates for several Chinese air-to-air missiles widely viewed as major threats to U.S. airpower in the Pacific. U.S. Navy File Photo – Four AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missiles (LRAAM) are loaded on an F/A-18E Super Hornet for a test event. (Image credit: U.S. Navy) Testing may start soon The testing of AIM-424 may begin in the winter of 2026. The Navy has yet to provide detailed information about the missile’s development timeline, testing program, guidance system, or operational status. It is also unclear when full integration with its carrier aircraft will be completed.
The released imagery does provide some insight into how the weapon could be deployed. The F/A-18E Super Hornet appears capable of carrying at least four AIM-424 missiles. The F-35C can carry the missile inside its internal weapons bays. This configuration would allow the stealth fighter to preserve its low observable characteristics during combat operations. New option for carrier aviation The AIM-424’s precise role within the Navy’s weapons inventory remains unclear. Naval aviation already operates the AIM-120, while the service has also introduced the longer-range AIM-174. The new weapon could complement the AIM-174 or eventually take on some of its missions. Their designs point to different development paths. The AIM-424 has the appearance of a conventional air-to-air missile. The AIM-174, meanwhile, was derived from the ship-launched SM-6 surface-to-air missile. The latter can also engage ballistic targets, giving it a role in defending against threats such as Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles.
