US navy employs enhanced AIM-174 missile on super hornets

The adaptation and repurposing of legacy weapons play a crucial role in maintaining operational effectiveness and strategic advantage. The recent deployment of the AIM-174 missile on Super Hornets by the US Navy exemplifies this strategy, showcasing how venerable platforms can be equipped with cutting-edge capabilities to address contemporary threats.

The Pentagon often prioritizes investing in high-tech future capabilities, but the military's operational reality remains a blend of both older and newer technologies.

Whether it's deploying drone swarms, advanced laser weapons, or next-generation hypersonic systems, Department of Defense (DoD) planners consistently show eagerness to pursue costly futuristic technologies, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

While staying at the forefront of military innovation is crucial, this strategy often leads Pentagon budget planners to assert that investing in new technologies requires divesting from older ones.

Consequently, the department frequently finds itself in a repetitive cycle of discarding obsolete equipment to finance future innovations. A recent instance of this is the Air Force's intention to retire advanced F-22 stealth fighters in favor of the potentially more advanced but less certain and distant capability promised by the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. As expected, with NGAD costs escalating and timelines slipping, some military leaders are advocating to retain the proven F-22 Raptors rather than banking on uncertain NGAD developments.

The notion that age or vulnerability alone should justify retiring military equipment is misguided. Every technology often requires a compatible platform to function effectively. In many cases, older chassis, hulls, or airframes can perform adequately.

Nowhere is this clearer than in the US Navy's recent unveiling of a significant technological advancement during the Rim of the Pacific exercises: the AIM-174B missile, a modified version of the SM-6 missile designed for airborne launch. This enhancement enables it to engage aerial, ballistic, and potentially surface threats at distances spanning hundreds of miles—significantly surpassing the capabilities of existing air-to-air munitions, which typically cover much shorter ranges.

Crucially, the "truck" for deploying this new technology is the Navy's existing fleet of "legacy" F/A-18E/F aircraft, ensuring that these 4th-generation fighters will play a pivotal role on future battlefields.

The extended range and airborne launch capability of the AIM-174B missile are poised to significantly enhance the US Navy's capabilities in fleet defense and high-value asset attack, thereby reducing the effectiveness of China's anti-carrier strategy. In addition to its air-to-air capabilities, the SM-6 variant was specifically designed for ballistic missile interception, making it versatile in countering threats such as ballistic, hypersonic, and air-breathing missiles that pose risks to American aircraft carrier strike groups.

Moreover, Super Hornets equipped with these modified payloads can operate well beyond the reach of traditional missiles, enabling them to target airborne threats outside the range of China's advanced air defense systems. This capability is critical for potentially neutralizing backline airborne assets like airborne early warning (AEW) and tanker aircraft. It also enables direct strikes against China's distant H-6 "carrier killer" bombers, preemptively eliminating them before they can launch their weapons.

While the air-launched SM-6 configuration is a recent development, the Standard Missile concept has been a cornerstone of the Navy’s arsenal for decades. Equipping Super Hornets with these advanced missiles underscores the ongoing relevance and adaptability of older platforms. This innovation significantly extends the operational lifespan of the F/A-18s and introduces critical new combat roles, bridging the gap until newer F-35s and autonomous aircraft are fully operational.

Crucially, the versatility of this capability — spanning extended ranges and diverse target types — presents significant challenges to adversaries like the CCP. Rather than specialized systems with limited functions, the US military emphasizes the need for multi-functional systems that can perform a variety of tasks. This approach aims to confound adversaries and prevent them from easily developing countermeasures to undermine US military superiority.

While the AIM-174's recent rollout is notable, it's not an isolated case. Many legacy weapons have been successfully updated or repurposed to meet current needs.