U.S. Navy Unveils 'Malice,' New Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile with 465km Reach

The U.S. Department of Defense unveiled for the first time on the 23rd (local time) the new air-to-air missile AIM-424 'Malice,' which boasts a range of approximately 465km. This represents the longest range among existing air-to-air missiles. The missile was developed to target key support aircraft, such as China's KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft and the Y-20U aerial refueling tanker.

The released photos depict an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Naval Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX-23) carrying four AIM-424 missiles, as well as an F-35C stealth fighter with the missile mounted in its internal weapons bay. The U.S. Navy plans to equip this missile on its next-generation fighter, the F/A-XX, in the future.

Military outlets, including The War Zone, analyzed that the AIM-424 possesses a longer range and superior performance compared to the Navy's current mainstay AIM-120 or the recently revealed AIM-174B, significantly enhancing dominance in long-range air combat.