This July, at the largest international naval exercise RIMPAC (2024), the US Navy presented a unique air-to-air missile, which immediately received a lot of attention. It’s a type of weapon that the United States and its allies desperately need right now, and it’s likely to change the rules of the game, at least in the Pacific region.
Raytheon developed the missile, designated AIM-174, in complete secrecy. At the moment, its basic parameters are known, and in July, images were published of the Boeing F / A-18E / F Super Hornet with weapons, which, among other things, carries four of the missile named in the operational version AIM- 174B.
So it seems that the development of the missile is basically complete and the AIM-174 is already operational. The unusual pace of development is largely related to the fact that the AIM-174 missile is actually a modified standard RIM-174 ERAM missile, also known as Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). At first, it was a surface-to-air (or water)-to-air missile, designed for the defense of ships, later also for ground systems, against aircraft, ballistic missiles, or even ships and ground targets.
The field is of fundamental importance
It is unclear whether the inertial and semi-active radar-guided missile, with a 64 kg warhead, retained the ability to strike against ships or land targets, but that is no less important. The fundamental importance of this missile lies in its range, which makes it a long-range air-to-air missile.
according to information available it flies at least 240 kilometers, which is really a lot for missiles intended for air combat. Maybe even more. The AIM-174 is at least comparable to a Russian missile of this type, the Vympel R-37M, and close to the reported range of the Chinese PL-21 missile. This makes it a revolutionary weapon that provides new ways to fight against nearly identical opponents.
AIM-174 missiles are likely to be intended for high-value air targets, and their elimination will adversely affect the enemy’s combat capability. They can be used offensively against refueling aircraft, early warning aircraft or possibly electronic warfare aircraft, i.e. systems that normally operate at distances further from the range of combat roles.
But they can also play a defensive role, for example against strategic bombers like the Xi’an H-6, which would threaten American fleets and bases in the Pacific. The enemies of the United States must now account for this potentially very effective weapon.
Cover image is for example only.
2024-10-09 09:45:00
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