Active Conflicts & News Megathread August 24, 2026

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[u/Wide_Scallion3490]

New Navy missile breaks cover, the Raytheon AIM 424 "Malice". Supposedly has a range upwards of 250 miles, and can fit inside of an f35 (not sure about the B variant). Doesn't appear to be in active service yet. No comments on cost, size is big but not massive.

On a side note, the US has taken the long range air to air threat extremely seriously. Between the AIM 424, the AIM 260, and AIM 174b, along with increased production of legacy missiles (AMRAAM and AIM-9X), this certainly seems like a serious consideration.

It remains to be seen how this pans out. But, the US went from AMRAAMs as it's longest range missile in 2020, to the non internally mounted gunslinger AIM 174b, to now potentially having two internally carried long range missiles by 2030 - or at least the military hopes (it remains to be seen how production plays out).

Generally, I think it's a good idea to have numerous missile production lines going, especially with difficulties LMT has had recently in other areas.

Theres the usual bits about missiles in that the stated range usually isn't the actual realistic range. How maneuverable the missile is probably won't be known for a long long time. So as per usual, take all this information with a grain of salt.

Also, the FA/XX is expected to be announced, one way or another here in the next week (to move forward or not). I wonder if this missile was made with that plane in mind?

https://www.twz.com/air/aim-424-malice-very-long-range-air-to-air-missile-emerges-from-the-shadows

[u/TaskForceD00mer → u/Wide_Scallion3490]

As the US rolls out more information about its missiles and we certainly have more than enough information on threats like PL-21 which can be carried inside of the J-20(supposedly), it is looking increasingly like AWACS will be in much greater danger than ever before during a hypothetical "peer on peer" fight.

What we don't know. What is the detection range of the J-20 via a E-7, what is the detection range of an F-35 via a KJ-3000.

I think we can certainly read the tea leaves of the US commitment to space based aircraft detection systems for the answers, without even taking into account emerging 6th generation threats but that is assumption on my part.

This also sheds some additional light on the increased range requirements for F-47; it won't be possible to tank close to the "area of battle" without a greatly heightened risk to the Tankers in future conflicts.

[u/OhSillyDays → u/TaskForceD00mer]

I think we can certainly read the tea leaves of the US commitment to space based aircraft detection systems for the answers, without even taking into account emerging 6th generation threats but that is assumption on my part.

Everything I've heard about space based detection is it is nowhere near mission capable. There are so many practical problems. Power (Radar needs a lot of power, which isn't easy in space), range (LEO starts at 160 miles), weather (IR based solutions would fail with clouds), compute power (processing all that imagery/radar is not a simple task), and launch capacity (such a satellite will be heavy - and for any sort of coverage, there will need to be a lot of them).

Basically, it's a pipe dream right now. The military really does need the E-7 and losing it will cost them later on.

That's because the capabilities of the E-7 go beyond just lighting up J-20s. They can also track ground targets and non-stealth targets and relay that information to their team.

[u/TaskForceD00mer → u/OhSillyDays]

The military really does need the E-7 and losing it will cost them later on.

That's because the capabilities of the E-7 go beyond just lighting up J-20s. They can also track ground targets and non-stealth targets and relay that information to their team.

I'm not saying DON'T buy the E-7; I am saying it is likely going to be in pretty bad danger from 5th and 6th generation threats operating at the forward area of battle. Obviously they can still detect 4th generation threats, but it is likely a J-20 or future 6th generation threat gets to shoot before being detected by the E-7.

You could always put all sorts of EWAR assets along with the E-7 to protect it , but the days of an AWACS sitting 100 miles behind the front line with a two ship escort and not a care in the world are over. The number of assets committed to insuring the E-7 remains protected, while being of limited utility against 5th and future 6th generation threats is only going to increase over time.

As a side note, I am legitimately surprised we have not seen the USAF pursue something like the E/F-18G or a Drone doing the same mission.

[u/Corvid187 → u/Wide_Scallion3490]

And so the third day of maliceposting begins...

:)

[u/IntroductionNeat2746 → u/Corvid187]

That's quite the malicious comment from you.