US Unveils 'Malice' Missile with 500 km Range
The US Navy has unveiled the 'Malice' missile, an advanced weapon developed by Raytheon for unprecedented range. Designed for integration with the F-35, it is intended to counter Chinese air superiority.
For a long time, it seemed that the US had lost its advantage in the field of air-to-air missiles. Pakistan used a Chinese missile to down an Indian fighter jet from a range of 200 km, far beyond the range of American AMRAAM missiles.
Today, it is clear that the US is not resting on its laurels. The US Navy has unveiled the AIM-424 Malice: a very long-range air-to-air missile with a reach of "over 463 km" (250 nautical miles). It is a radar-guided missile featuring advanced rocket propulsion and high speed, with most details remaining classified.
The missile, currently in testing, is being developed by Raytheon to provide US carrier-based pilots the ability to destroy hostile fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and tankers from extreme distances. This capability is primarily required by the Navy to counter Chinese air and naval forces in a potential conflict over Taiwan. In recent years, China has invested heavily in fighter jets and stealth bombers, narrowing the gap previously enjoyed by the US, though no similar missile is currently known to be in their arsenal.
The missile's range exceeds that of fighter jet radars. It is likely that it can be launched based on data from external radars, ships, or airborne early warning and control aircraft. In the coming years, it will integrate with a network of radar satellites that the US is launching, which are expected to provide a revolutionary ability to detect any aircraft globally at any moment.
Photos released by the US Navy show an F-18 carrying four such missiles, and an F-35 carrying one in its internal weapons bay, allowing it to maintain its stealth profile.
Since the Six-Day War, the Israeli Air Force has purchased its radar-guided air-to-air missiles from the US. Even after Rafael developed the radar-guided 'Derby' missile at the Air Force's request, the service ultimately preferred the American AMRAAM.
Will Israel purchase the 'Malice'? While the price has not been published, it is likely to be expensive, exceeding one million dollars per unit. The missile could fit Israeli F-35 and F-15 aircraft, and likely the F-16 Sufa. There may be operational scenarios where it could be significant in the Middle East, as its range allows pilots to launch from outside the danger zone of enemy missiles; theoretically, a fighter jet flying over northern Israel could down an aircraft flying over southern Turkey.
