The US Navy has revealed the AIM-424 Malice, a previously little-known long-range air-to-air missile being developed for current and future generations of fighter aircraft. The weapon was displayed publicly at the Tailhook Symposium, highlighting the Navy’s continued focus on extending the engagement range of carrier-based aviation.Raytheon is developing the missile and is currently involved in flight testing. The system is intended for platforms including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C, while future integration with the F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter is also anticipated.Malice is being developed around the requirements of long-range fleet air defense. The Navy has emphasized the need to maintain an advantage in the air domain as potential adversaries field aircraft and weapons capable of operating at increasingly extended ranges.Many details remain classified or undisclosed. The Navy has not provided a specific deployment schedule or complete performance specifications. Available information indicates that the missile uses a two-stage configuration and is intended to provide greater range and tactical flexibility.The weapon is approximately 4 meters long, has a diameter of about 0.34 meters, and weighs roughly 680 kilograms. It reportedly uses a solid-fuel rocket motor and carries a blast-fragmentation warhead. Its design allows internal carriage within the F-35C while external carriage is possible on the F/A-18E.With a reported reach beyond 250 nautical miles, the AIM-424 could extend the engagement envelope available to US Navy fighter aircraft. Its development reflects the increasing importance of long-range air-to-air weapons as carrier aviation prepares for operations against sophisticated air threats.The Malice program also illustrates the Navy’s effort to equip multiple generations of fighters with advanced weapons while preparing for future sixth-generation combat aircraft.
