AIM 424 Malice Missile: Amazing 250-Mile Range Revealed at Tailhook
The AIM 424 Malice missile was publicly revealed by the US Navy at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada, on August 22, 2026, and it’s already being described as a generational leap over the Navy’s current long-range air-to-air weapon. Here’s what’s known about its range, the aircraft it will fly on, and why the Navy built it now.
What Is the AIM 424 Malice Missile?
The AIM 424 Malice missile is a new long-range air-to-air missile developed by Raytheon for the US Navy, designed to strengthen fleet air defence against advanced threats in the Pacific. It was disclosed through official Navy Fact Files and photos on the Digital Visual Information System the same day it was announced, showing test aircraft carrying the weapon.
How Malice Compares to the AIM-174B Gunslinger
At 13.5 feet long with a 13.5-inch diameter, the AIM 424 Malice missile is actually shorter than the Navy’s current long-range option, the 16.5-foot AIM-174B “Gunslinger,” despite having a longer stated range of over 250 nautical miles (463 kilometres) compared to the Gunslinger’s 200-plus nautical miles. Its wingspan of 26.2 inches is also considerably smaller than the Gunslinger’s 42.7 inches, a design choice that matters more than it might seem, since it allows the missile to fit inside a stealth fighter’s internal weapons bay rather than only being carried externally.
Which Aircraft Can Carry It?
The AIM 424 Malice missile has been confirmed compatible with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which can carry four of the missiles externally, and the F-35C Lightning II, which can carry it internally, a capability the larger Gunslinger doesn’t have. It’s also expected to eventually arm the Navy’s future F/A-XX fighter, and the US Air Force’s F-47 has been mentioned as a possible future platform as well.
The stated purpose behind the AIM 424 Malice missile is countering long-range air-to-air threats being developed by Russia and China, specifically Russia’s R-37M and China’s PL-15, PL-16, and PL-17 missiles. Giving a stealth aircraft like the F-35C the ability to carry a genuinely long-range weapon internally is significant, since it’s a capability the Chinese military hasn’t publicly demonstrated yet. The missile is also intended to be effective against high-value, harder-to-replace targets like airborne early warning aircraft, electronic warfare planes, and reconnaissance jets.
Development Timeline
The program’s roots trace back to a long-range air-to-air missile competition from the mid-2010s. More recent milestones happened quickly: a classified development effort began in January 2026, a captive-carry flight test was disclosed in April 2026, and an F-35 fit test was conducted in August 2026, shortly before the missile’s public unveiling at Tailhook.
What Raytheon Says
Raytheon President Phil Jasper described the programme’s approach as one that “delivers a generational leap in air dominance combat capability that can out range any threat.” The AIM 424 Malice missile now joins the AIM-174B Gunslinger, operational since July 2024, and the AIM-260 JATM, flight-tested as recently as May 2026, as part of a rapidly expanding Navy long-range missile arsenal, though it remains unclear whether Malice will eventually replace the Gunslinger or serve alongside it. Official program details are tracked through the US Navy’s official news releases.
What Happens Next
With the F-35 fit test only just completed and the missile still officially under development, key questions remain open, including whether the US Air Force will adopt the AIM 424 Malice missile and how its real-world performance compares to Chinese and Russian long-range missiles it’s meant to counter, details the Navy has not yet disclosed publicly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the AIM 424 Malice missile?
It’s stated to exceed 250 nautical miles (463 kilometres), longer than the AIM-174B Gunslinger’s 200-plus nautical mile range.
Which company makes Malice?
Raytheon, part of RTX’s Advanced Technology division, developed the missile for the US Navy.
Can the F-35 carry Malice internally?
Yes, its smaller wingspan compared to the Gunslinger allows the F-35C to carry it inside its internal weapons bay rather than only externally.
When was Malice revealed?
It was publicly revealed at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada, on August 22, 2026.
Will the AIM 424 Malice missile replace the AIM-174B Gunslinger?
That’s not yet confirmed. Both missiles may end up operating alongside each other rather than one fully replacing the other.