AIM-174B

For the surface-to-air predecessor of the AIM-174B, see RIM-174 Standard ERAM.

The AIM-174B is a long-range air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon and used by the United States Navy (USN). The AIM-174B is a derivative of the RIM-174B Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM, Standard Missile-6, or SM-6) surface-to-air missile, a member of the extended Standard Missile family, with the USN describing the AIM-174B as the "Air-Launched Configuration"^[9] of the SM-6. The AIM-174B's existence was first confirmed to the public in July 2024 at RIMPAC 2024. The AIM-174B is only known to be capable of being carried and launched by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as of July 2024.^[10]

AIM-174B
VX-9 F/A-18F with AIM-174 missiles, 24 September 2024
Type	Very long-range air-to-air missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2021 (2021)(?)–present[1]
Used by	United States Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Raytheon
Variants	YAIM-174, XAIM-174, NAIM-174, AIM-174B, CATM-174B[2][3]
Specifications
Mass	1,900 lb (860 kg)[4]
Diameter	13.5 in (0.34 m)
Wingspan	61.8 in (1.57 m)
Warhead	High-explosive blast-fragmentation
Warhead weight	140 lb (64 kg)[5]
Detonation mechanism	Radar and contact/impact/proximity fuze
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket motor
Operational range	At least 130 nmi (150 mi; 240 km)[6][7]
Maximum speed	Mach 3.5 (2,664.2 mph; 4,287.7 km/h; 1.2 km/s)[8]
Guidance system	Inertial guidance, terminal active and semi-active radar homing
Launch platform	Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Since the 2004 retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix AAM, the USN has not fielded a dedicated long-range air-to-air missile.^[11] The AIM-174's existence had been speculated about since at least 2021, with photos of SM-6s carried by Super Hornets making their way online.^[12] The publication Naval News reports that they were following developments of an "air-launched SM-6" since 2015,^[13] while The Aviationist reports that photos of Super Hornets carrying "an SM-6 variant" appeared in 2018.^[14]

Little is known about the missile as it is speculated that it was developed as a special access program,^[15] similar to the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile^[16] (of which little is officially known).^[17] As the AIM-260 is similarly a very long-range air-to-air missile, it is unclear what the relationship between the AIM-174B and AIM-260 will be, as the USN has co-operated with the United States Air Force (USAF) in developing the latter for use by both services. Both missiles are designed to counter the extreme-range air-to-air missiles being fielded or under-development by the United States' peer and near-peer potential adversaries, such as the Russian Vympel R-37M or the Chinese PL-21.^[18] Both the AIM-174 and -260 are separate from the currently under-development Long-Range Engagement Weapon of the USAF.

Design

Photos reveal that the AIM-174B weighs around 1,900 lb (861 kg), about five times the weight of the AIM-120 AMRAAM.^[4] These photos also show that the AIM-174 is externally virtually identical to the RIM-174, apart from the marked lack of the MK72 solid-fuel rocket booster on the AIM-174.^[19] The missile will likely utilize a solid-fuel rocket engine, as carried by the RIM-174.^[20]

In September 2024, photos emerged of a USN Super Hornet of the VX-9 'Vampires' carrying four AIM-174Bs, three AIM-120 AMRAAMs, two AIM-9Xs, and an ATFLIR targeting pod simultaneously.^[21]

Range and use

While details regarding the AIM-174's range are unconfirmed, certain surface-launched SM-6 variants are capable of 250 nmi (290 mi; 460 km) launches; with the benefit of being launched already at-speed and at-altitude (where the air is thinner and thus easier to fly through),^[22] the AIM-174's range may extend to several hundred miles,^[23] though the USN has only confirmed a range of 130 nmi (150 mi; 240 km).^[24][6]

While the AIM-174 lacks the SM-6's MK72 rocket booster, in the thinner air of higher-altitudes (relative to a surface launch) and retaining the speed of the launching aircraft (several hundred miles per hour, at minimum), an air-launched AIM-174 may be capable of extreme ranges (300–400+ kilometres), relative to other air-launched missiles.^[25] The AIM-174 may also be capable of ‘lofting,’^{[according to whom?]} a technique whereby the launched missile immediately ascends upwards to gain additional altitude, leveling-out generally between 80,000 ft (24,000 m) to 100,000 ft (30,000 m).^{[citation needed]} The AIM-174's predecessor,^[26] the AIM-54 Phoenix BVRAAM was capable of employing this launch profile (along with certain AIM-7 Sparrow variants and all AIM-120 AMRAAM variants).^{[citation needed]} Between the AIM-174's advantages over a surface-launched SM-6 and the possibility of lofted-launch profiles, the AIM-174's range may extend to hundreds of nautical miles.^[27] The USN also routinely understates the publicly-available ranges and capabilities of weapon systems for strategic security purposes.^[28] At minimum, the AIM-174 represents a roughly 30% increase in range over the 99 nmi (114 mi; 184 km) of the retired AIM-54C and a roughly 50% increase over the 87 nmi (100 mi; 161 km)^[29] of the in-service AIM-120D AMRAAM.

Very long-range AAMs such as the extant R-37M and the nascent PL-21 are typically utilized to attack large airborne targets; their current efficacy in attacking smaller targets (such as air superiority fighters or drones) is unknown.^{[citation needed]} The AIM-174 will likely be subject to similar operational and practical limitations, and will likely be reserved for use against high-value airborne assets.^[30] As such, it is speculated that the AIM-174 could be used offensively to strike at tankers or airborne early warning aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft far behind the ‘frontlines’ or defensively to strike large bombers — such as China's Xian H-6 — threatening USN fleets.^[31]

As the RIM-174/SM-6 is capable of anti-ship and anti-ground strikes, the possibility exists for the AIM-174 to be utilized in such capacities.^[32] Derived from the SM-6 family — whose variants are capable of anti-ship missile defense and anti-ballistic missile launches — the AIM-174 will likely retain such anti-missile capabilities.^[33]

See also

• List of missiles
• AIM-54 Phoenix – (United States)
• AIM-120 AMRAAM – (United States) (AIM-120D)
• AIM-260 JATM – (United States)
• Astra (missile) – (India)
• Meteor – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
• PL-15 – (China)
• PL-17 – (China)
• PL-21 – (China)
• R-37 – (Russia)
• R-77 – (Russia) (ramjet version)

References

1. Johnston, Carter (2024-06-04). "Air-launched SM-6 Spotted Again on F/A-18 Super Hornet". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
2. Newdick, Thomas; Rogoway, Tyler. "F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load". TWZ. Archived from the original on 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-17. Markings are visible on the AIM-174s that show they are technically "captive" CATM-174Bs not capable of being fired.
3. Rogoway, Tyler (23 July 2024). "AIM-174 Missile Seen On Super Hornet About To Launch From A Carrier For First Time". Archived from the original on 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-08-02. An XAIM-174B (or NAIM-174B) missile under the wing of another VFA-192 Super Hornet seen at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, earlier this month
4. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-08). "These Photos Provide a Size Comparison Between the New AIM-174B and AIM-120 Missiles". The Aviationist. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-24. According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile... the AIM-174B... weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).
5. Ho, Ben (10 March 2016). "Fixing the US Navy's Anti-Surface Warfare Shortfall". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023.
6. West, Lisa (2024-07-06). "U.S. Navy Reveals Longest-Range Air-to-Air Missile at RIMPAC". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
7. Doyle, Gerry (2024-08-15). "US Navy's newest air-to-air missile could tilt balance in South China Sea". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-08-17. a weapon such as the AIM-174B, which can attack aerial targets as far away as 400 km (250 miles)
8. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-03). "First Images Emerge Of U.S. Navy Super Hornet Carrying Two Air-Launched SM-6 Missiles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-08-17. Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3.5, the missile has an official range of 200 nautical miles.
9. Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07. The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration (ALC) was developed as part of the SM-6 family of missiles and is operationally deployed in the Navy today.
10. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-03). "First Images Emerge Of U.S. Navy Super Hornet Carrying Two Air-Launched SM-6 Missiles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
11. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-03). "First Images Emerge Of U.S. Navy Super Hornet Carrying Two Air-Launched SM-6 Missiles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-07-07. In essence, this new missile fills the gap left by the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix. The AIM-54 was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the U.S. Navy's F-14 Tomcat and retired in 2004 alongside the F-14. Known for its impressive range of over 100 nautical miles and multiple-target engagement capability, the AIM-54 left a significant void in long-range engagement capabilities.
12. Johnston, Carter (2024-06-04). "Air-launched SM-6 Spotted Again on F/A-18 Super Hornet". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
13. Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07. ...Naval News is following a possible lead that points to a potential air-launched SM-6 dating back as far as 2015.
14. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-03). "First Images Emerge Of U.S. Navy Super Hornet Carrying Two Air-Launched SM-6 Missiles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-07-07. Although the news broke in 2021 only, the first sighting of a Super Hornet carrying an SM-6 variant occurred in 2018 when an F/A-18F from VX-31 was photographed with the same missile under its wing, indicating that the U.S. Navy has been developing an air-launched version of the SM-6/RIM-174 for at least six years.
15. "Phoenix Successor Redux: The USN's Range Riposte to China's PL-17". Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31. …the AIM-174 was a previously classified Special Access Program.
16. "New AIM-260 Missiles Are So Secretive They Will Require A Custom Storage Bunker At Hill AFB". July 2019. Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31. …AIM 260A JATM assets cannot be housed in shared facilities with legacy munitions; and must be supported by a facility designed to meet specific operational requirements, and the stricter Special Access Program Facility security requirements.
17. Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07. The AIM-260 remains secretive about procurement and delivery given its status as a Special Access Program (SAP). It is likely that the effort to integrate SM-6 is also a SAP…
18. Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07. …the U.S. Navy joins allies and adversaries in fielding an extra long range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). Examples include Europe's Meteor, Russia's R-37M (AA-13 "Axehead"), China's PL-15 (CH-AA-10 "Abaddon") and PL-21 (CH-AA-X-12).
19. Sebastien Roblin. "The Navy's Rhinos Grew a Longer Horn: Does a New Missile Affect US-China Military Balance?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-10. The air-launched AIM-174B, however, is shorter because the Mk.72 rocket booster behind the tail fins was removed.
20. Sebastien Roblin. "The Navy's Rhinos Grew a Longer Horn: Does a New Missile Affect US-China Military Balance?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-10. The weapon is an Air Launched Configuration (ALC) of the ship-launched RIM-174 Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), a big weapon weighing 1.6 tons with two solid fuel rockets...
21. Newdick, Thomas (2024-09-11). "F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 2024-09-13. Retrieved 2024-09-16. A series of photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet with a remarkable and hitherto unseen air-to-air load-out, including four of the very long-range AIM-174B air-to-air missiles. The fighter is also loaded with three medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAMs, and a pair of short-range AIM-9X Sidewinders, along with an infrared search and track system (IRST) and an ATFLIR targeting pod.
22. Rogoway, Tyler (2024-07-08). "Disclosure of New AIM-174B Missile Brings Navy's Future Air-to-Air Strategy Into Focus". TWZ. Retrieved 2024-07-07. …launched from altitude and speed by a fighter, its range would be extended quite dramatically, giving it the ability to hit some aerial targets over multiple hundreds of miles.
23. Cenciotti, David (2024-07-03). "First Images Emerge Of U.S. Navy Super Hornet Carrying Two Air-Launched SM-6 Missiles". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2024-07-07. The SM-6 uses the airframe of the SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, upgraded with an active radar homing seeker derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles. To that respect, it's not clear what the maximum range of the air-launched version could be: despite the lack of a booster, launching it at high speed and altitude would result in significantly greater range compared to the surface-launched variant.
24. Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
25. "Phoenix successor redux: The USN's range riposte to China's PL-17?".
26. "Phoenix Successor Redux: The USN's Range Riposte to China's PL-17". Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31. Thirty-two years after the US Navy cancelled its project to replace the Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile (AAM), the service has introduced into service a likely 300–400+ kilometre-range AAM to fulfil an apparently similar role known as the AIM-174B.
27. Rogoway, Tyler (2024-07-08). "Disclosure of New AIM-174B Missile Brings Navy's Future Air-to-Air Strategy Into Focus". TWZ. Retrieved 2024-07-07. …launched from altitude and speed by a fighter, its range would be extended quite dramatically, giving it the ability to hit some aerial targets over multiple hundreds of miles.
28. Rogoway, Tyler (2024-07-08). "Disclosure of New AIM-174B Missile Brings Navy's Future Air-to-Air Strategy Into Focus". TWZ. Retrieved 2024-07-07. Also, published figures are often severely degraded for security purposes, so the actual range of the SM-6 remains unknown, especially across its various use cases. Regardless, launched from altitude and speed by a fighter, its range would be extended quite dramatically, giving it the ability to hit some aerial targets over multiple hundreds of miles.
29. "New long-range missile project emerges in US budget". November 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
30. "Phoenix Successor Redux: The USNS Range Riposte to China's PL-17". Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31. A possible target set for the now-in-service AIM-174B is what are sometimes referred to as high value airborne assets (HVAA). HVAAs include airborne early warning, electromagnetic combat and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft as well as aircraft capable of carrying long-range anti-ship missiles of various descriptions.
31. Eaglen, Mackenzie; Spiller, Cole (2024-07-16). "The Navy's New Air-to-Air Capability Could Set Roadmap for Repurposing Old Systems". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-07-07. The extensive range and air-launched capability are poised to greatly bolster the US Navy's fleet defense and high value asset attack, weakening the stranglehold of China's anti-carrier strategy… This would hold crucial backline airborne assets line airborne early warning (AEW) and tanker aircraft at risk, and even directly strike China's distant H-6 "carrier killer" bombers, destroying them before they launch their weapons.
32. Rogoway, Tyler (2024-07-23). "AIM-174 Missile Seen On Super Hornet About To Launch From A Carrier For First Time". TWZ. Retrieved 2024-07-07. The AIM-174 designation points to an air-to-air focus, but the surface-launched SM-6 has the ability to strike targets at sea and on land. [sic] capabilities the air-launched version could well retain. Future air-launched variants or derivatives of the SM-6 family could be further optimized for anti-ship or air-to-ground strikes.
33. "Phoenix Successor Redux: The USNS Range Riposte to China's PL-17". Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31. The new missile could possibly also provide a capability against air-launched ballistic missiles.

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