August 25, 2026, 6:02 pm
A major development has emerged from the Tailhook Association’s convention in Reno, Nevada, where the U.S. Navy has revealed a previously undisclosed air-to-air missile designated the AIM-424 “Malice.”
The AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM) is already undergoing testing and is intended to equip several generations of U.S. Navy fighters. Planned platforms include the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the F-35C Lightning II, and the Navy’s future F/A-XX next-generation fighter.
The Navy has also released imagery providing the first public look at the weapon. One photograph, taken in April, shows an F/A-18E/F operated by Naval Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) carrying four of these missiles. A separate image shows the weapon integrated into the internal weapons bay of an F-35C.
The missile’s most striking advertised characteristic is its range of more than 250 nautical miles. That’s more than 285 miles or about 465 km. However, the significance of the AIM-424 extends well beyond that headline figure.
Let’s take a closer look at what is known about this new weapon and what it could mean for the US Navy’s future air-combat capabilities.
#defenseupdates #AIM424 #usweapons
Chapters:
0:00 TITLE
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:35 SPONSORSHIP – NordVPN
02:09 BACKGROUND
04:50 THE PLAN
07:19 ANALYSIS
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