US Navy Unveils AIM-424 ‘Malice’ Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile With Over 250-Mile Reach

The US Navy publicly revealed its new AIM-424 LRAAM, nicknamed “Malice,” at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada on August 22, 2026. Developed by Raytheon, the long-range air-to-air missile has a range exceeding 250 nautical miles (about 460 km).

At a Glance

The US Navy unveiled the AIM-424 Malice at the Tailhook Symposium on August 22, 2026.
The missile’s range exceeds 250 nautical miles (about 460 km).
It was developed by Raytheon.
At 13.5 feet (4.11 m) long, Malice is roughly three feet shorter than the Gunslinger missile, letting it fit inside the F-35C’s internal weapons bay.
Target platforms include the Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 and the Navy’s F-35C, F/A-18 and potential F/A-XX.

Background

The Navy released imagery showing the missile sitting inside an F-35C’s internal weapons bay alongside an AMRAAM for size comparison. Malice’s compact form lets stealth aircraft engage long-range targets without carrying external stores, preserving the low-observability advantage that defines fifth- and sixth-generation fighters. The missile’s development is widely seen as a response to the range gap opened by Chinese long-range air-to-air weapons such as the PL-17. Malice is designed to be compatible with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation platforms.

The program’s public unveiling marks a shift from secrecy to visibility in how the US is showcasing its air-superiority weapons leap. The missile’s test schedule and in-service date have not been officially disclosed; reporting indicates it remains in development and evaluation.

Regional Impact

The race for longer-range air-to-air missiles directly shapes the future of aerial combat, particularly along the China-Taiwan axis and across the Indo-Pacific. The US move is likely to raise allied demand for similar long-reach capability. For countries developing fifth-generation fighters with internal weapons bays, Malice’s compact-yet-long-range design offers a reference point worth tracking for future indigenous munition programs.