The US Navy has revealed the AIM-424 “Malice,” a long-range air-to-air missile designed to support fourth-, fifth-, and future sixth-generation combat aircraft. The weapon was publicly displayed at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada.
Raytheon has been identified as the developer of the missile, which is currently progressing through flight-testing activities.
The AIM-424 is expected to equip the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C fleets, while also being considered for integration with the future F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter. The service said the new missile will help improve fleet protection and preserve a decisive advantage in the air domain against advanced threats.
Although the Navy has not disclosed the program’s development history or schedule, reports have indicated that the two-stage missile may be connected to a Long Range Engagement Weapon concept introduced in 2017.
Specific details regarding the Malice’s capabilities and expected entry into service have also remained classified due to security considerations.
Malice Missile
The AIM-424 is being developed to extend the range, survivability, and operational flexibility of US carrier-based air power. The weapon could support Washington’s strategy of projecting combat power at greater distances in response to increasingly capable long-range threats.
The missile is approximately 13.5 feet (4 meters) long and has a diameter of 13.5 inches (0.34 meters), along with a wingspan measuring 26.2 inches (0.6 meters).
Its design allows it to be carried internally by the F-35C or externally mounted on the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
At around 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), the AIM-424 carries a blast-fragmentation warhead and uses a solid-propellant rocket motor for propulsion.
The Malice is reported to have a range of more than 250 nautical miles (463 kilometers/288 miles), potentially surpassing the reach of existing air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-174B.
