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By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick      Published  Oct 21, 2026 2:14 PM EDT     (navy-f-a-18-super-hornet-spotted-carrying-new-aim-174b-and-aim-260-long-range-missiles-together.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens Google in a new window or tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.        (A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) has been spotted carrying both the AIM-174B and AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. The configuration could represent the first publicly documented instance of these two advanced air-to-air weapons appearing on the same aircraft.)   @photosxlyss2_    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (c1a768f5d5) (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy        A U.S. Navy (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) has been spotted carrying both the (https://www.twz.com/air/disclosure-of-new-aim-174b-missile-brings-navys-future-air-to-air-strategy-into-focus) AIM-174B and (https://www.twz.com/air/pentagon-cuts-new-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-production-deal-testing-accelerating) AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. This represents the first known publicly documented instance of these two advanced air-to-air weapons appearing on the same aircraft. The aircraft was photographed on October 14 by aviation photographer (https://www.instagram.com/_photosxlyss2_/) @photosxlyss2 , who shared the result with TWZ . The same Super Hornet was also carrying an (https://www.twz.com/air/troubled-infrared-pod-for-navy-super-hornets-get-new-vote-of-confidence) IRST21 infrared search-and-track pod on its centerline station. ()  A close-up of the AIM-174B, AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, and IRST21 infrared search-and-track pod under an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. @photosxlyss2_ RY  Two critical elements of the modernization of the U.S. military’s air-to-air missile arsenal, the AIM-174B and AIM-260 provide complementary capabilities, addressing different aspects of the Navy’s evolving air-combat requirements. Based on the (https://www.twz.com/air/sm-6-missile-closer-to-proving-hypersonic-weapon-intercept-capability-after-aegis-destroyer-test) SM-6 missile family, the AIM-174B provides the Navy with an extended-range air-to-air weapon. Its size and reach make it particularly relevant to engagements against high-value airborne assets, including aerial refueling tankers and (https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-new-domestically-developed-y-20-airborne-early-warning-jet-spotted) airborne early warning and control aircraft . ()  A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet test jet with four AIM-174B missiles under its wings. point_mugu_skies   Threatening these support platforms at extended distances complicates an adversary’s ability to sustain fighter operations, maintain airborne surveillance, and coordinate engagements across domains. Such targets are especially important in the Indo-Pacific, where distances are vast and combat aircraft may depend heavily on tanker support to reach and remain on station over contested areas. The range of this missile is classified but (https://www.twz.com/air/disclosure-of-new-aim-174b-missile-brings-navys-future-air-to-air-strategy-into-focus) should be far in excess of that of the AIM-120D AMRAAM, probably in the hundreds of miles, as discussed in the video below. (How The Navy's New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble thumbnail)  How The Navy's New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble       (How The Navy's New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble)   The AIM-174B has already appeared in (https://www.twz.com/air/navy-posts-its-first-aim-174-missile-armed-f-a-18f-super-hornet-glamour-shots) several major exercises , including (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-missile-seen-on-super-hornet-about-to-launch-from-a-carrier-for-first-time) RIMPAC 2024 and Northern Edge 2025. Following developmental trials at RIMPAC, the weapon entered Live Fire Test and Evaluation in 2025. Some examples of the missile have since reached forward-deployed Navy squadrons in Japan. The AIM-260, meanwhile, is being developed to provide a next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air capability. It is intended to address increasingly sophisticated aerial threats and improve upon the capabilities of the very widely used (https://www.twz.com/air/biggest-aim-120-amraam-order-ever-just-signed-by-pentagon) AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) family. It was another F/A-18F from VX-31 on which the AIM-260 (https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-finally-breaks-cover) was first publicly seen when departing Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in May of this year. The same type of weapon has since also appeared on a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F, as you can read about (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) here . ()  An F/A-18F from VX-31 carrying the AIM-260. Jonathan Tweedy/ @flightline_visuals   The AIM-260’s precise specifications remain classified, but it is designed to deliver significantly greater range than the AIM-120 AMRAAM while maintaining a broadly similar form factor. Its compact design is important, as the missile is intended for both external carriage and internal carriage aboard aircraft such as the (https://www.twz.com/air/f-22-b-52-flight-testing-over-the-mojave-showcases-advanced-usaf-developments) F-22 Raptor and (https://www.twz.com/adapter-for-f-35-internal-carriage-of-six-aim-120-missiles-is-progressing) F-35 . ()  A rendering depicting an F-22 Raptor firing an AIM-260 JATM. U.S. Air Force   The AIM-260 is being developed to counter the growing long-range air-to-air threat posed by China’s (https://www.twz.com/air/parts-of-a-pakistani-pl-15e-air-to-air-missile-came-down-relatively-intact-in-india-after-air-battle) PL-15 and other (https://www.twz.com/air/russia-fielding-new-nuclear-armed-air-to-air-missiles-us-intel) advanced missiles . Although no official range figures have been disclosed, previous reporting has indicated a target range of at least 120 miles, with the potential to reach considerably farther. ()  Inert PL-15s in the weapons bay of a Chinese J-20 fighter. via Chinese internet   It is unclear when the first operational AIM-260s may begin entering the U.S. inventory. Together, however, the two weapons give the Super Hornet access to a broader range of engagement options, depending not only on the range of the target, but also on the nature of the engagement and overall tactical situation. The presence of an IRST21 pod is also noteworthy. The infrared search-and-track system passively detects and tracks airborne targets rather than relying exclusively on radar emissions. Passive sensing is especially valuable in environments where electromagnetic emissions must be managed carefully. Although an IRST system does not automatically provide all the information needed to support a long-range missile engagement, it can contribute to a broader sensor picture and potentially help crews detect targets without immediately revealing their own position through radar emissions. After a (https://www.twz.com/air/new-details-on-f-a-18-super-hornets-troubled-irst-pod) long and troubled development , a full-rate production contract for Block II IRST21 sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters was awarded this time last year, as you can read about (https://www.twz.com/air/new-details-on-f-a-18-super-hornets-troubled-irst-pod) here . ()  An IRST21 built into the centerline tank on a Super Hornet during early tests. U.S. Navy   The appearance of both missiles on a VX-31 Super Hornet is a notable development in the Navy’s ongoing testing of advanced air-combat capabilities. VX-31, based at the sprawling (https://www.twz.com/25281/what-its-like-to-work-inside-the-navys-secretive-china-lake-weapons-development-center) Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, conducts test and evaluation activities involving naval aviation weapons and systems. On this occasion, the jet is carrying inert missiles (denoted by their blue bands) in a captive-carry configuration. The flight may have been part of ongoing weapons-integration testing, handling and compatibility evaluations, or another test activity. At the very least, the configuration offers an intriguing glimpse into how a Navy Super Hornet might go into battle in a future high-end air combat scenario. Pairing the extended-range AIM-174B with the next-generation AIM-260 would provide a powerful combination. Added to those two will be the (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-424-malice-very-long-range-air-to-air-missile-emerges-from-the-shadows) AIM-424 Malice , an all-new, very long-range air-to-air missile, the existence of which was only disclosed in August of this year. This is reportedly a two-stage design, which should result in extreme range — said to be in excess of 250 nautical miles — and very high speed. It isn’t known where Malice slots in next to the AIM-174B, although the newer missile is purpose-designed for air launch, unlike the Standard-derived weapon. (U.S. Navy File Photo - Four AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missiles (LRAAM) are loaded on an F/A-18E Super Hornet for a test event. The AIM-424 LRAAM is the Department of the Navy's next-generation, long-range air-to-air missile, built to give Marine and Naval aviators the capability they need to defeat advanced threats and defend the force.)  Four AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missiles (LRAAM) are loaded on an F/A-18E Super Hornet for a test event. U.S. Navy U.S. Navy  As the service prepares for increasingly demanding scenarios in the Indo-Pacific, the new photo underscores the fact that the ability to threaten a wider range of targets at greater distances is one of the key considerations in the evolution of the Navy’s carrier-based fighter force. With thanks to (https://www.instagram.com/_photosxlyss2_/) @photosxlyss2_  ; check out more of her work via (https://www.facebook.com/PhotosxLyss) PhotosxLyss on Facebook  .  Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com  (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) (Thomas Newdick Avatar)   (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick   Staff Writer    Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at  TWZ  , where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond.   (https://twitter.com/CombatAir)           Loading comments…  Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.         Latest in AIM-260 (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) (A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to No. 1 Squadron takes flight at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu during Gray Flag 2026, Sept. 11, 2026. Gray Flag is the naval aviation test community’s premier large-force test event, providing unique venues for large-scale integration of new capabilities across services and platforms. Working with the Joint Force, industry and our nation’s allies to ensure integration and interoperability is key to ensuring warfighters have a decisive advantage in the field.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) AIM-260 JATM Missile Spotted On Australian Super Hornet   The secretive AIM-260 air-to-air missile will give Australian fighters a much-needed boost in reach, especially against Chinese threats. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick        1:01 PM  October 1, 2026      (https://www.twz.com/air/pentagon-cuts-new-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-production-deal-testing-accelerating) (The Pentagon has reached a deal with Lockheed Martin to lay the groundwork for stepped-up production and delivery of new AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missiles (JATM) in the coming years.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/us-air-force) U.S. Air Force   (https://www.twz.com/air/pentagon-cuts-new-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-production-deal-testing-accelerating) Pentagon Cuts New AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Production Deal, Testing Accelerating   The AIM-260 was originally slated to enter service years ago and it is seen as critical to counter China's PL-15 air-to-air missile. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick        12:13 PM  September 17, 2026        ()    The TWZ Newsletter  Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Sign Up  By signing up you agree to our(https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy.           More   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-super-hornet-launched-variant-of-sm-6-missile-breaks-cover-in-hawaii) (The air-launched version of the hugely versatile SM-6 missile, also known as the RIM-174, has appeared on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters at the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. We now also know the missiles are designated AIM-74B, indicating an air-to-air missile, although, as we have discussed in the past, the weapon also has the potential to strike high-priority ground targets, such as air defense sites, and warships, acting as a quasi-ballistic missile.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-super-hornet-launched-variant-of-sm-6-missile-breaks-cover-in-hawaii) AIM-174 Super Hornet-Launched Variant Of SM-6 Missile Breaks Cover In Hawaii (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway           (https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-live-fire-testing-surged-last-year-with-navy-help) (Members of the U.S. Navy's Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) contributed to an important increase in live-fire testing of the secretive AIM-260A long-range air-to-air missile last year, it has emerged.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/air-combat-exercises) Air Combat Exercises   (https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-live-fire-testing-surged-last-year-with-navy-help) Secretive AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Live-Fire Testing Surged Last Year With Navy Help   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/navy-posts-its-first-aim-174-missile-armed-f-a-18f-super-hornet-glamour-shots) (A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. Gray Flag is an annual large-force test event that brings the joint force together to test and evaluate multi-domain systems in a maritime environment, ensuring our nation’s warfighters are equipped with effective, interoperable systems that will help them deter aggression, protect our nation’s prosperity and security, and return home safely to their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs))     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/navy-posts-its-first-aim-174-missile-armed-f-a-18f-super-hornet-glamour-shots) Navy Posts Its First AIM-174 Missile-Armed F/A-18F Super Hornet ‘Glamour Shots’   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/air/f-a-18-super-hornet-appears-with-unprecedented-heavy-air-to-air-missile-load) (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.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/f-a-18-super-hornet-appears-with-unprecedented-heavy-air-to-air-missile-load) F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway           (https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-finally-breaks-cover) (The first picture of the U.S. military's new AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) has emerged.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-finally-breaks-cover) Secretive AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Finally Breaks Cover   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) (A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to No. 1 Squadron takes flight at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu during Gray Flag 2026, Sept. 11, 2026. Gray Flag is the naval aviation test community’s premier large-force test event, providing unique venues for large-scale integration of new capabilities across services and platforms. Working with the Joint Force, industry and our nation’s allies to ensure integration and interoperability is key to ensuring warfighters have a decisive advantage in the field.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-260-jatm-missile-spotted-on-australian-super-hornet) AIM-260 JATM Missile Spotted On Australian Super Hornet   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick           (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-424-malice-very-long-range-air-to-air-missile-emerges-from-the-shadows) (New AIMI-424 air-to-air missile breaks cover.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/air-to-air) Air-To-Air   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-424-malice-very-long-range-air-to-air-missile-emerges-from-the-shadows) AIM-424 “Malice” Very Long-Range Air-To-Air Missile Emerges From The Shadows (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway           (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-missile-seen-on-super-hornet-about-to-launch-from-a-carrier-for-first-time) (A look at an AIM-174 air-launched version of the SM-6 missile with previously unseen markings under the wing of a Super Hornet aboard the USS Carl Vinson has emerged.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-missile-seen-on-super-hornet-about-to-launch-from-a-carrier-for-first-time) AIM-174 Missile Seen On Super Hornet About To Launch From A Carrier For First Time   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway) Tyler Rogoway ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/category/air) SEE MORE         (https://www.twz.com/) (TWZ Logo)    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (c1a768f5d5) (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      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