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U.S. Navy Unveils AIM-424 Malice Long-Range Missile

8/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Navy unveiled the AIM-424 “Malice” long-range air-to-air missile at the Tailhook Symposium on Aug 22 2026.
Raytheon built the 13.5-foot, 1,500-pound missile with a two-stage rocket that exceeds 250 nautical miles (463 km).
April 2026 tests mounted four missiles on an F/A-18E Super Hornet and one in an F-35C bay.
The Pentagon sees Malice as a step toward 1,000-mile air-to-air missiles to counter Chinese and Russian threats.

History

Historical Context

Testing of the AIM-54 Phoenix began in 1972, giving the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat long-range capability and recording 62 kills—all by Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. After the Phoenix retired in 2004 and the Tomcat in 2006, the Navy fielded the AIM-174 in July 2024, its first long-range AAM since the Phoenix. The 2026 unveiling of Raytheon’s AIM-424 “Malice” continues that legacy.

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Story summary

The U.S. Navy unveiled the AIM-424 “Malice” long-range air-to-air missile at the Tailhook Symposium on Aug 22 2026.
Raytheon built the 13.5-foot, 1,500-pound missile with a two-stage rocket that exceeds 250 nautical miles (463 km).
April 2026 tests mounted four missiles on an F/A-18E Super Hornet and one in an F-35C bay.
The Pentagon sees Malice as a step toward 1,000-mile air-to-air missiles to counter Chinese and Russian threats.

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