US Navy unveils AIM-424 Malice long-range air-to-air missile
The US Navy has revealed a new air-to-air missile, the AIM-424 Malice, capable of striking targets more than 465 kilometres away, according to multiple reports. The missile, developed by Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corp., is being tested to provide a longer reach than any known weapon of its type.
According to the US Navy, the missile has dimensions similar to the current AIM-120 AMRAAM, allowing it to fit inside the internal weapons bays of F-35 and F-22 stealth fighter aircraft. The service said the Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM) is designed to give pilots greater reach, survivability, and tactical flexibility in air-to-air combat.
The AIM-424 is approximately 13.5 feet (4.11 metres) long, weighs 1,500 pounds (680 kg), and has a diameter of 13.5 inches, with a wingspan of 26.2 inches. It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor, carries a blast-fragmentation warhead, and has a stated range exceeding 250 nautical miles (463 km). The missile is designed for use with fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
Strategic Context and Expert Analysis
The development of such long-range air-to-air missiles has drawn attention following recent conflicts. The Economic Times reported that interest in these weapons grew after last year's India-Pakistan military confrontation, during which Pakistan said it used Chinese-made missiles with a reported range of around 300 km to strike Indian fighter jets.
Peter Layton, a former Royal Australian Air Force officer and visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, offered a specific assessment of the missile's purpose, as quoted by Bloomberg. "I think it's meant to counter Chinese bombers firing long range anti ship cruise missiles," Layton said. "Fleet air defence, not air-to-air combat."
Layton's comments highlight a belief that the missile's primary role may be protecting naval assets from bombers and other high-value aircraft, rather than engaging in traditional air-to-air dogfights. The extended range could also allow aircraft to engage high-value targets such as airborne command-and-control aircraft and aerial tankers from standoff distances, as noted by The Economic Times.
Operational Challenges and Pentagon Ambitions
Using a missile at such extreme ranges presents significant challenges. Attacking aircraft need sensors capable of detecting and tracking targets at those distances and providing mid-course guidance updates. Additionally, as The Straits Times noted, faster jets can defeat long-range attacks by flying in the opposite direction.
These limitations mean that while the missile has the range to engage targets at great distance, its effectiveness could be reduced against fast, modern fighters. The Navy has not said when the AIM-424 Malice will become operational.
The unveiling of the Malice is part of a broader Pentagon push to field extremely long-range air-to-air missiles, a capability that has been largely absent since the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix and its launch platform, the F-14 Tomcat. Lockheed Martin was awarded around US$1 billion in 2026 to begin production of the AIM-260, another long-range missile. Meanwhile, the AIM-174B, an air-to-air adaptation of the SM-6, has been operational for several years with a reported range of more than 400 km.
India's Parallel Development
In a separate but related development, The Times of India reported on India's own efforts to field advanced air-to-air missiles. According to that report, India's indigenously developed Astra Mk-2 missile is expected to enter service this year or next, with a range of 200 km, and the Indian Air Force plans to induct 700 units. An Astra Mk-3 (Gandiva) is also in development with a 350 km range, using a Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet propulsion system. These developments were reported in the context of India's broader goal of self-reliance in missile technology, replacing foreign-made systems.