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| AIM-174 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Very long-range air-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2021(?)–present[2] |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon |
| Variants | AIM-174B |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,900 lb (860 kg)[3] |
| Length | 21.5 ft (6.6 m) |
| Wingspan | 61.8 in (1.57 m) |
| Warhead | High-explosive blast-fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 140 lb (64 kg)[4] |
Detonation mechanism | Radar and contact/impact/proximity fuze |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket motor |
Operational range | At least 130 nmi (150 mi; 240 km)[5] |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3.5 (2,664.2 mph; 4,287.7 km/h; 1.2 km/s)[6] |
Guidance system | Inertial guidance, terminal active and semi-active radar homing |
Launch platform | Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
The AIM-174 is a very long-range air-to-air missile developed by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon and utilized by the United States Navy (USN). The AIM-174 is a derivative of the RIM-174 Standard ERAM (Standard Missile-6 or SM-6) surface-to-air missile, with the USN describing the AIM-174 as the "Air-Launched Configuration"[7] of the SM-6. The AIM-174's existence was first confirmed to the public in July 2024 at RIMPAC 2024. 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)[8], the AIM-174's range may extend to several hundred miles[9], though the USN has confirmed a range of 130 nmi (150 mi; 240 km).[10][11] The operational variant, 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.[12] Since the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix BVRAAM, the USN has not fielded a dedicated long-range air-to-air missile.[13] 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;[14] The publication Naval News reports that they were following developments of an "air-launched SM-6" since 2015,[15] while The Aviationist reports that photos of Super Hornets carrying “an SM-6 variant” appeared in 2018.[16]
Little is known about the missile as it is speculated that it was developed as a special access program, similar to the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (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-174 and -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
editPhotos reveal that the AIM-174B weighs around 1900 lbs (861 kg), about five times the weight of the AIM-120 AMRAAM.[19] 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. Sans MK72 booster pack, the missile is approximately 21.5 ft (6.6 m); this is almost double the 12 ft (3.7 m) of the AMRAAM.
The missile will likely be a single-stage booster-sustainer solid-fuel rocket engine, similar to an SM-6 without the MK72 booster. It is unclear if there is any provision, capability, or reason for the AIM-174 to mount the MK72 pack.
It is unclear if RIM-174/SM-6 surface-launched missiles will be freely interchangeable with the AIM-174. It is unknown if there will be a process to convert SM-6 missiles to the Air-Launched Configuration or vice-versa. It is unknown if AIM-174 missiles will have a separate manufacturing process from the various SM-6 variants currently in-production.
Range and use
editWhile some variants of the surface-launched SM-6 are capable of up to 250 nm (290 mi; 460 km) launches, the USN has only confirmed a range of 130 nm (150 mi; 240 km) for the AIM-174B. 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, relative to other air-launched missiles. The AIM-174 may also be capable of ‘lofting,’ 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); Her spiritual predecessor, 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). 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.[20] The USN also routinely degrades the publicly-available ranges and capabilities of weapon systems for strategic security purposes.[21]
Though the current primary target(s) of the AIM-174 is/are not known, it is speculated that the missile could be used offensively to strike at tanker or airborne early warning aircraft far behind the ‘frontlines’ or defensively to strike large bombers — such as China’s Xian H-6 — threatening USN fleets.[22]
See also
edit- List of missiles
- AAM-4 – (Japan)
- AIM-260 JATM – (United States)
- Astra (missile) – (India)
- MICA – (France)
- Meteor – (France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden)
- PL-12 – (China)
- PL-15 – (China)
- Derby – (Israel)
- R-27EA – (Soviet Union)
- R-77 – (Russia)
- Sky Sword II – (Taiwan)
References
edit- ^ Johnston, Carter (2024-06-04). "Air-launched SM-6 Spotted Again on F/A-18 Super Hornet". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
In 2021, a VX-31 F/A-18F was spotted carrying an inert SM-6 without its 21-inch MK72 first-stage booster...
- ^ Johnston, Carter (2024-06-04). "Air-launched SM-6 Spotted Again on F/A-18 Super Hornet". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ 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.
According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile... the AIM-174B... weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).
- ^ Ho, Ben (10 March 2016). "Fixing the US Navy's Anti-Surface Warfare Shortfall". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023.
- ^ 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.
Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3.5, the missile has an official range of 130 nautical miles.
- ^ 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.
Capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 3.5, the missile has an official range of 130 nautical miles.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Johnston, Carter (2024-07-05). "U.S. Navy Confirms SM-6 Air Launched Configuration is Operationally Deployed". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ West, Lisa (2024-07-06). "U.S. Navy Reveals Longest-Range Air-to-Air Missile at RIMPAC". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Johnston, Carter (2024-06-04). "Air-launched SM-6 Spotted Again on F/A-18 Super Hornet". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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…
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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.
According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile carried by the CVW-2 Super Hornets taking part in RIMPAC, the AIM-174B (designated NAIM-174B, with the N prefix indicating modifications for special tests where reconversion to the original configuration is neither planned nor feasible at reasonable costs) weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.