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See the full story · 2 sourcesFour AIM-424 "Malice" missiles loaded on an F/A-18 fighter jet. US Navy photo
The US Navy has unveiled a next-generation air-to-air missile.
The AIM-424 "Malice," which is in testing, can threaten enemy aircraft over a range of 280 miles.
Its development comes as the Pentagon pushes for greater air-to-air reach to counter China.
The US Navy has unveiled a new developmental air-to-air missile that can fit inside its F-35 stealth fighter jets and threaten enemy aircraft from over 280 miles away.
Through multiple lines of effort, the Pentagon is pushing for a greater air-to-air reach as China fields increasingly long-range missiles, some of which Pakistan used last year in a brief conflict with India.
The AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM), also known as the "Malice," reflects an effort to close the gap. With a stated range of more than 250 nautical miles (288 miles), the munition can travel farther than known alternatives in the Navy's arsenal.
The Navy said in a newly released fact sheet that the Malice is a "next-generation missile intended to strengthen fleet defense and maintain a decisive air domain overmatch against advanced threats." It said the missile is built for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation aircraft.
The Navy published a photo over the weekend showing an AIM-424 missile mounted in the internal weapons bay of the fifth-generation F-35C fighter jet . Storing missiles inside allows the aircraft to maintain its stealth. Services can choose to sacrifice that, though, for a heavier weapons loadout with missiles mounted on the exterior hardpoints.
The Malice is developed by Raytheon , a subsidiary of the US defense contractor RTX. Weighing 1,500 pounds, the weapon is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor and has a blast-fragmentation warhead, meaning it can damage a target by detonating in proximity.
An AIM-424 "Malice" (right) mounted in the internal weapons bay of an F-35C next to an AIM-120 (left). US Navy photo
It's unclear when the Malice will be put into service, but such a reach could prove advantageous for American airpower as the US military looks to counter China in the Western Pacific.
Navy F-35Cs and fourth-generation F/A-18 Super Hornet jets are able to fly with a proven arsenal of air-to-air missiles, including the popular short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder and medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM , which has been in service for more than three decades.
There's also the AIM-174B Gunslinger , an air-launched version of the SM-6 surface-to-air missile, which is operational on Navy F/A-18 fighter jets. Its range is classified, but it is estimated to be more than 200 miles.
The military is also developing the AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile), designed to compete with Chinese missiles such as the PL-15 , which is believed to have a range exceeding 120 miles. The Department of Defense noted the PL-15 and China's other beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, such as the newer PL-17, in its latest report on Chinese military capabilities .
It's unclear where the new Malice will fall on the range spectrum, but the stated range is significant. The missile is noticeably larger than the AIM-120; however, it weighs less than the AIM-174B, according to the Navy.
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