U.S. Navy Unveils 250-Nautical-Mile AIM-424 Missile to Extend Carrier Air Defense
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
U.S. Navy Unveils 250-Nautical-Mile AIM-424 Missile to Extend Carrier Air Defense
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Summary
Aug. 22 marked the Navy’s announcement of the AIM-424 LRAAM, nicknamed MALICE, an extra-long-range air-to-air missile built to hit aircraft or drones before they can threaten U.S. fighters or carriers.
More than 250 nautical miles of range is the key advance, letting pilots detect targets on radar, fire from far beyond visual range and preserve the service’s “first look, first shot, first kill” edge.
At 13.5 feet and 1,500 pounds, the missile is far larger than the 335-pound AIM-120 AMRAAM, reflecting the propulsion needed for extreme reach; it also uses a blast-fragmentation warhead for near-hit kills.
F/A-18 Super Hornets have already been used in testing, and the Navy said the weapon will work across fourth-, fifth- and future sixth-generation aircraft.
Raytheon is developing the missile as the Navy and Marine Corps push for longer-range air combat and wider fleet protection over the horizon.