Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy & Military Strategy  

US Navy reveals AIM-424 Malice long-range air-to-air missile for F-35C and future fighters

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The U.S. Navy has disclosed the Raytheon-built AIM-424 Malice, a long-range air-to-air missile with a stated reach exceeding 250 nautical miles (463 kilometers). The weapon is undergoing flight testing and is intended for the F/A-18, F-35—including the carrier-based F-35C—and future F/A-XX fighters.

Discovered 2026-08-23T01:15:37.681112-07:00 | 2026-08-23T01:15:37.681112-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • Malice would give Navy fighter aircraft a stated engagement range exceeding 250 nautical miles, materially extending the reach of carrier-based air combat operations; the publicly disclosed range and program status establish the weapon’s intended strategic role.
  • Compatibility with the F/A-18, F-35C and future F/A-XX creates a cross-platform integration requirement as the missile progresses through flight testing, with implications for fighter weapons carriage, testing and future procurement planning.

Reported By

forcaaerea.com.br tecnodefesa.com.br USNI News Defense Daily SpaceNews.com The War Zone
Sources Tracked
28
First Seen
2026-08-23T01:15:37.681112-07:00
Latest Update
2026-08-24T19:28:02.936233-07:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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