This week, U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets participating in RIMPAC 2024 revealed to the public what was already seen in the shadows; an air-launched variant of the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). The adapted missile broke cover in 2021 on a VX-31 Test and Evaluation F/A-18F. It was the first glimpse of a secretive U.S. Navy program to integrate the SM-6 onto the Super Hornet. Further tests earlier this year, with Super Hornets from the VX-9 Test and Evaluation squadron, supported the effort to integrate SM-6 onto the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F fleet.
Now, Naval News has received confirmation from the U.S. Navy about crucial details of the air-launched SM-6 program, including its program name and operational status. Most importantly, the U.S. Navy has officially acknowledged the existence of an air-launched SM-6 variant for the first time.
“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.”
U.S. Navy Spokesperson
SM-6 Air Launched Configuration / AIM-174
‘Air Launched Configuration’ is the U.S. Navy’s nomenclature for the SM-6 and AIM-174 relationship, and the official title for SM-6 missiles used for air-to-air purposes. The U.S. Navy also disclosed that the AIM-174 is ‘operationally’ deployed in the U.S. Navy, a significant step from previous sightings of the missile which showed inert, captive carry, and ground training variants only. The U.S. Navy declined to comment further.
With this, the U.S. Navy is confirmed to have the AIM-174 in active service, likely in Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the CVW-2 Advanced Air Wing’s Super Hornet squadrons attached to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). With the induction of AIM-174B into service, 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).
The addition of AIM-174 into the U.S. Navy is a separate effort from the Air Force and Navy procurement of the AIM-260 JATM air-to-air missile which is being developed by Lockheed Martin. 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, but Naval News is following a possible lead that points to a potential air-launched SM-6 dating back as far as 2015.
The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration / AIM-174B’s first known operator, CVW-2, is participating in RIMPAC 2024 with the USS Carl Vinson. Naval News reached out regarding possible use of the new missile in a demonstration, but the U.S. Navy declined to comment on possible live-fire involvement. Given the public nature of RIMPAC, however, additional images and details of the AIM-174B are likely.
