US eyes 2,000‑km air‑to‑air missile, poised to rewrite aerial warfare rules
The US Air Force ’s Life Cycle Management Center is pushing to change how aerial warfare is viewed.
The USAF is seeking a next‑generation air‑launched standoff capability under the Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW) program, which specifies a minimum threshold range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km).
The Air Force will hold a closed‑door meeting with defence‑industry representatives on 25–26 August 2026 at Eglin AFB ’s Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility.
AFLRW envisions both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑surface variants, with priority given to air‑to‑air solutions for initial operational capability under pre‑defined but classified defence planning scenarios 2.1 and 7.1.
An air‑to‑air missile with a 1,850 km range would outstrip most current and in‑development systems.
For context: China’s PL‑17, reportedly about 400 km, is designed to target high‑value assets such as AWACS. Russia’s R‑37M reaches Mach 6 and about 300 km.
The US AIM‑260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is expected to exceed 200 km and replace the AIM‑120 AMRAAM, which is about 160 km. China’s PL‑15 approaches 200 km.
Europe’s Meteor, with a throttleable ramjet, also reaches nearly 200 km and equips platforms such as the Rafale. India’s Astra family is reported to provide stand‑off ranges of 160–350 km.
The USAF is seeking a next‑generation air‑launched standoff capability under the Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW) program, which specifies a minimum threshold range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,850 km).
The Air Force will hold a closed‑door meeting with defence‑industry representatives on 25–26 August 2026 at Eglin AFB ’s Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility.
AFLRW envisions both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑surface variants, with priority given to air‑to‑air solutions for initial operational capability under pre‑defined but classified defence planning scenarios 2.1 and 7.1.
An air‑to‑air missile with a 1,850 km range would outstrip most current and in‑development systems.
For context: China’s PL‑17, reportedly about 400 km, is designed to target high‑value assets such as AWACS. Russia’s R‑37M reaches Mach 6 and about 300 km.
The US AIM‑260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is expected to exceed 200 km and replace the AIM‑120 AMRAAM, which is about 160 km. China’s PL‑15 approaches 200 km.
Europe’s Meteor, with a throttleable ramjet, also reaches nearly 200 km and equips platforms such as the Rafale. India’s Astra family is reported to provide stand‑off ranges of 160–350 km.
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