The AIM-424 Malice is the U.S. Navy’s newest long-range air-to-air weapon, designed to engage targets at more than 250 nautical miles and to equip both current and next-generation fighter aircraft across the services. The reveal came during a naval aviation gathering in Reno, Nevada, as the Pentagon accelerates capabilities for potential high-end conflict in the Pacific.
Built by Raytheon’s Advanced Technology organization, the AIM-424 Malice features a 13.5-inch diameter and an aerodynamically efficient profile optimized for reach. Company leadership said the missile can out range any threat, positioning it to exceed estimates of the longest-ranged air-to-air systems fielded by China that have been viewed as a chief challenge to U.S. airpower in the region.
AIM-424 Malice targets extended reach and survivability
The Navy describes the Long Range Air-to-Air Missile, or LRAAM, as a capability that preserves a first look, first shot, first kill advantage by improving reach, survivability, and tactical flexibility for air-to-air combat. The service says the weapon is intended for fourth, fifth, and sixth generation platforms, making it suitable for today’s air wings as well as future forces.
A U.S. official familiar with the program said the missile’s range and speed surpass those of the AIM-174B, which entered operational use earlier in the decade. According to the official, specialized fins and strakes help the larger missile retain substantial maneuverability, enabling engagements against fighter-sized targets while exceeding the performance of legacy systems such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM and complementing the in-development AIM-260 JATM.
Cyber specialists have been developing the missile’s digital integration for a wide set of aircraft and joint systems shared by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, two U.S. officials said. That work began in January to support rapid fielding across multiple platforms.
Platforms under consideration include the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 and the Navy’s F-35C, F/A-18, and potentially the F/A-XX. Service materials indicate at least one captive-carry flight in April 2026 and a fit check on an F-35 in August, with development understood to have been underway for years.
Raytheon confirmed the missile’s existence and framed it as a generational leap. Phil Jasper, president of Raytheon, an RTX business, said strengthening fleet defense and air superiority against rapidly emerging long-range threats is essential, adding that the AIM-424’s extended range and lethality provide naval forces with a decisive edge.
The AIM-174B, revealed as operational in 2024, has served as a bridge toward these longer-range capabilities. Admiral Keith Hash, who leads the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, said earlier that the AIM-174B is an operational system and that additional capabilities are following behind it.
Beyond the AIM-174 and AIM-424, the Department of Defense is refining requirements for the Air Force Long Range Weapon, an air-to-air missile concept seeking roughly a 1,000 nautical mile range.
In a statement, a Navy official said the AIM-424, also known as Malice, is intended to bolster fleet defense and ensure decisive overmatch against advanced threats. The official said the missile supports integrated deterrence by increasing range, lethality, and combat effectiveness for Marine and Naval Aviation forces, while details on capabilities and timelines remain classified for operational security.
Beyond the AIM-174 and AIM-424, the Department of Defense is refining requirements for the Air Force Long Range Weapon, an air-to-air missile concept seeking roughly a 1,000 nautical mile range.
In a statement, a Navy official said the AIM-424, also known as Malice, is intended to bolster fleet defense and ensure decisive overmatch against advanced threats. The official said the missile supports integrated deterrence by increasing range, lethality, and combat effectiveness for Marine and Naval Aviation forces, while details on capabilities and timelines remain classified for operational security.