The US Navy has unveiled a new extreme-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-424 LRAAM, nicknamed "MALICE," designed to let pilots detect, engage and destroy enemy aircraft or drones well before coming within range of a threat themselves. The Navy announced the weapon on 22 August, saying it is intended to preserve America's "first look, first shot, first kill" advantage in aerial combat, boosting the reach, survivability and tactical flexibility of naval and Marine Corps aviators.

The missile has a range described as "in excess" of 250 nautical miles (roughly 287 miles), far exceeding typical air-to-air weapons, and is designed to shield an entire fleet from beyond the horizon. Measuring 13.5 feet long and weighing around 1,500 pounds, it dwarfs the standard AIM-120 AMRAAM, which weighs about 335 pounds, reflecting the larger propulsion system needed for its range. It carries a blast-fragmentation warhead that can destroy targets without a direct hit, and is being built by defence contractor Raytheon for use across fourth, fifth and future sixth-generation fighter jets.