On May 4, 2025, during the Friendship Day event held at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, the U.S. Navy publicly unveiled the AIM-174B (air-launched variant of the SM-6) for the first time, mounted under the wing of an F/A-18F.
Originally established as a base for U.S. Marine Corps tactical aircraft squadrons rotating from the United States to Japan, MCAS Iwakuni became a major hub for U.S. Navy carrier-based aviation following the relocation of Navy squadrons in 2018. Since then, it has served as the shore base for Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), which is forward-deployed aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier based at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture. The AIM-174B was mounted on an F/A-18F assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102), currently embarked aboard the USS George Washington.
The AIM-174B was previously confirmed to have been mounted on an F/A-18F of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2), embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, during the RIMPAC 2024 exercise held off the coast of Hawaii. Naval News had also reported that the U.S. Navy was actively fielding the AIM-174B with operational units, and this marks the first public confirmation that the missile is being deployed with forward-deployed forces in Japan.
Originally developed as a long-range surface-to-air missile with a range of 370 kilometers, the SM-6 has since evolved into a multi-mission weapon system. It is now capable of terminal-phase ballistic missile defense, intercepting hypersonic threats, and conducting land-attack and anti-ship missions.
・A Response to the Chinese Threat?
CVW-5 represents the U.S. Navy’s frontline aviation unit in the Indo-Pacific region, where it actively counters the growing military capabilities of China and North Korea. Notably, China has already fielded beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) such as the PL-15, with an estimated range of 200 km, and the PL-21, reportedly reaching 300 km. In contrast, the U.S. Navy’s longest-range air-to-air missile to date has been the AIM-120D, with a range of approximately 180 km.
To close this range gap, the United States has initiated the development of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), which is also slated for Navy service. However, details regarding its acquisition timeline and production schedule remain unclear, and its deployment with operational units has not yet been confirmed.
In this context, the AIM-174B stands out as a highly effective example of capability acceleration through the adaptation of an existing missile system. By repurposing the Standard Missile-6 for air-launch, the Navy has rapidly fielded a weapon that surpasses the range of current Chinese BVRAAMs. Like the original SM-6, the AIM-174B also holds the potential to perform in a variety of mission profiles, making it a highly versatile multi-role missile.
CVW-5 is now equipped with an array of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced carrier-based assets, including the AIM-174B, F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block III, CMV-22B Osprey, and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye which is equipped with a aerial-refueling boom to increase its range and endurance, and enhanced airborne early warning. Altogether, CVW-5 constitutes a cutting-edge carrier air wing uniquely positioned to project power and maintain deterrence in the Western Pacific.
