#missiles

It’s not a question of if things will go wrong; it’s a question of how.

Moments of Impact - A Slow Horses Breakdown

🚀 🔥The U.S. Air Force is developing air-to-air missiles with a range of at least 1,000 nautical miles. That is roughly 10 times the reach of current AIM-120 AMRAAM variants. Through the Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW) program, it is pursuing an A/A variant to strike high-value targets like AEW&C aircraft, tankers, bombers, and surveillance planes deep in contested airspace. This enables engagement from safe standoff distances, disrupting enemy situational awareness and logistics while keeping U.S. support aircraft out of harm’s way. The missiles will operate as part of a networked “kill web,” drawing on multi-domain sensors beyond just the launch platform. This effort counters peer adversaries, especially China that are fielding longer-range AAMs and advanced AEW&C platforms. It aims to pierce A2/AD defenses and preserve air superiority from greater distances. The AFLRW prioritizes the air-to-air solution for initial capability (an air-to-surface variant is also planned) and is separate from the nearer-term AIM-260 JATM. A classified industry day with contractors is scheduled for late August 2026. These very long-range A2A missiles represent a major leap in air combat reach and tactics. #USAF #AirToAir #LongRangeMissile #A2A

2nd image by: U.S. Military via Flight Global