In today’s society, the role of weapons and military forces carries a deeper meaning than just slaughter. Powerful military capabilities are often used for deterrence, maintaining world peace, and ensuring human security. Although warfare has become more covert, it has never ceased. Let’s take a closer look at the details and truth behind the struggle of right and wrong with “Military Affairs” today.
At the recently started 2024 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the long-range air-to-air missile carried by the U.S. Navy’s F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet, known as the air-launched variant of the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), has captured people’s attention. This sudden appearance of the missile has brought a touch of vibrancy to the previously somewhat dull U.S. long-range air combat domain.
The 2024 RIMPAC exercise, which began last week, is the 29th edition of the biennial joint exercise and the world’s largest maritime exercise. Approximately 29 countries, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, ground forces from 14 nations, over 150 military aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel are engaged in joint operations in and around the Hawaiian Islands, with the exercise set to continue until August 1st.
John Wade, Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet and the RIMPAC Combined Task Force (CTF), stated that RIMPAC has become the world’s largest and most critical joint maritime exercise. Its purpose is to establish connections, enhance interoperability and proficiency, and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
After years of speculation and clandestine operations, the U.S. Navy has finally announced a significant advancement in its air-to-air missile capability. The AIM-174 is the air-launched variant of the versatile Standard Missile 6 missile, also known as the RIM-174. It may be the U.S. Navy’s longest-ranged air-to-air missile deployed historically. It made its first appearance on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets at RIMPAC, and its significance lies in the milestone it may represent for the U.S. Navy’s air combat capabilities, potentially surpassing all potential adversaries in combat range and thus plugging the gap in aerial capabilities caused by the rapid expansion of the CCP.
The Standard Missile 6 is a weapon with significant potential and tactical impact that has been in existence for many years, at least based on publicly available test results. Whether or not the U.S. Navy acknowledges this viewpoint, as the core air defense weapon on U.S. Navy ships, it performs admirably in intercepting highly maneuverable and hypersonic aerial targets. Therefore, installing it on fighter jets to carry out long-range air-to-air combat missions seems like a logical choice.
However, there is still some mystery surrounding the Standard 6 air-launched version. This missile, also known as AIM-174B, indicates that it is endowed with the capability for super long-range air-to-air combat. However, the weapon’s capability may extend beyond hitting aerial targets to also engaging high-priority ground and sea targets like air defense sites and warships.
On July 2nd, at Hickam Joint Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, an F/A-18E from the VFA-192 “Golden Dragons” Attack Fighter Squadron was observed with a missile attached under each wing labeled XAIM-174B. This squadron is part of Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) currently deployed on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier.
On the same day, a photographer also observed another Super Hornet fighter jet from Carrier Air Wing Two carrying two air-to-air missiles labeled NAIM-174B, with the letter N indicating that these missiles were modified for special testing. The warheads of these missiles were painted gray instead of the bright orange color, indicating they were not fitted with explosive warheads, and the circular blue stripes on the missile body may signify that the missile’s propulsion system was not activated. The yellow-black markings near the middle of the body appeared to be center of gravity calibration markings.
The appearance of these missiles at RIMPAC is intriguing. They could be intended for tactical testing in the Pacific theater, or it may suggest that the U.S. Navy plans to conduct live-fire exercises with AIM-174B. Clearly, these missiles have entered a testing phase or at least have been undergoing concept evaluations for some time. Seeing carrier aircraft carrying these missiles in flight indicates they are becoming a practical operational capability.
Considering that long-range air-to-air missiles will provide a significant advantage on the battlefield, it is notable that the PLA is also deploying long-range air-to-air missiles, with the PL-12 medium-range air-to-air missile having a range of approximately 70 kilometers. Its new long-range air-to-air missile, the PL-15, is reportedly capable of reaching a range close to 200 kilometers, posing a significant challenge to the U.S. military.
For some time, the U.S. has been developing longer-range air-to-air missiles. In addition to extending the range of the AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missile, efforts are also underway to develop the AIM-260 long-range air-to-air missile with a range of 200 kilometers or more. Solely based on range, the U.S. AIM-120 and AIM-260 do not have an absolute advantage over the Chinese PL-12 and PL-15, setting aside other performance metrics.
Certainly, in the current air combat context, missile range may not be the sole determinant of aerial combat victory but also key considerations include the performance of fire control radars and guidance systems, along with capabilities such as target discovery, tracking, locking, and battlefield command and control systems. Having a “short leg” is not something worth boasting about.
As an air-to-air weapon, the AIM-174B will provide the U.S. Navy’s F-18 fighters with the capability to engage various aerial targets at distances approaching 400 kilometers. This not only surpasses the current AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missile but also exceeds the range of the still in development AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM).
From the perspective of aerial combat, the AIM-174B’s potential battlefield capabilities could lead to significant changes for the U.S. military. However, it is still not precisely known which types of targets the AIM-174 can effectively counter, despite its nomenclature indicating it possesses critical air-to-air combat capabilities. This multi-role variant of the Standard 6 missile should have other combat capabilities as well.
Based on the inherent lineage of the Standard 6 missile and its various later variants, expectations for the AIM-174B should exceed its unprecedented air-to-air capability. Its primary performance features are demonstrated in four aspects.
First is range. When a fighter jet launches the AIM-174B in the air at a certain velocity, it means that it has a greater initial speed compared to ground-launched models. Benefiting from altitude and speed advantages, even without the booster rockets typically equipped on ground-launched Standard 6 missiles, it can achieve a greater range. The range of ground-launched Standard 6 missiles is approximately 370 kilometers, while the AIM-174B could likely surpass this distance and engage opponents beyond 400 kilometers.
Second is versatility. Apart from its primary air-to-air capability, the AIM-174B is also capable of engaging ground and sea targets, acting similarly to ballistic missiles. This dual-role capability enhances the combat flexibility of the Super Hornets, enabling them to target different types of adversaries.
Third is the information network capability. The U.S. Navy has integrated this missile into the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system, allowing the AIM-174B to receive target data from various platforms. Aircraft like the F-35, E-2D Hawkeye surveillance planes, and warships equipped with Aegis systems can provide data and instructions to the AIM-174B. This allows the Super Hornets to attack targets beyond their radar range significantly, expanding their operational capabilities.
Furthermore, as the AIM-174B gains a certain momentum the moment it is launched from a fighter jet, it has a higher initial speed and better maneuverability, enabling it to effectively engage more agile aerial targets.
Additionally, early warning aircraft, maritime patrol planes, aerial refueling tankers, and even bombers—these cumbersome high-value targets often operate outside the fighter jets’ attack range and have a critical impact on the battlefield. The presence of the AIM-174B provides the U.S. Navy with the opportunity to strike these targets at farther distances. This will create a crucial capability for the U.S. military to counter China’s anti-access infrastructure.
For years, there has been speculation about the development of long-range air-to-air missiles by the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy openly showcased this weapon at RIMPAC, even without conducting live-fire shots, which speaks volumes. Evidently, such capabilities are highly relevant to potential conflicts with China in the Pacific region, and the U.S. military expects that this conflict will primarily focus on super-long-range “kill chains.”
Importantly, this latest development indicates that the air-launched version of the Standard 6 missile is either already a reality or soon will be. The emergence of the AIM-174B shows that the U.S. Navy remains determined to maintain overwhelming superiority in high-end competition with China in the Pacific region.