The US has deployed its new long-range air-to-air missile that could potentially upset the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific in the US-China ‘cold war’. The AIM-174B missile mounted on the US Navy’s F-18 Super Hornet, as seen in several photos, is known to have an operational range of around 400 kilometres.
The AIM-174B derivative of the Raytheon SM-6 surface-to-air missile is operated from US naval platforms. The SM-6 is a multi-role missile used for anti-air warfare, anti-ballistic missiles, and anti-surface warfare.
The AIM-174B was first seen during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest naval exercise with 26 participants. The missile was mounted on a hardpoint under the wings of the Super Hornet, attracting attention due to its potential to disrupt the balance of power in the air.
All About the AIM-17B
The Air Interceptor Missile (AIM)-174B is an air-to-air version of the SM-6 missile. It is readily available due to the existing production line for the SM-6 missile. The Raytheon SM-6 missile has a booster stage, which lifts the missile into the air, followed by a solid rocket booster and sustainer motor to hit the target.
The SM-6 weighs about 1,500 kg, while the AIM-174 weighs about 850 kg due to the absence of a booster motor. The speed of the US Navy’s new missile is Mach 3.5, that is, 3.5 times the speed of sound. This missile is considered to be a direct counterpart to the Russian RH-37 Vympel long-range hypersonic air-to-air missile, which has a range of 400 kilometers and the Chinese PL-15 long-range missile with a range of 300-350 kilometers.
The SM-6 missile is three missiles in one
Photo Credit: Image Credit: www.rtx.com/raytheon
China’s PLA Navy has reportedly deployed the PL-17 missile, an upgraded version of the PL-15, which has a range of 400 kilometers. The last dedicated long-range air-to-air missile the US Navy had was the AIM-54 Phoenix for the F-14 Tomcat. The fighter jet and missile were phased out of service in 2004.
Why air-to-air missiles in the age of stealth fighters?
The US and China are massively building a new generation of stealth fighter jets that can sneak into enemy territory without being detected by radar. The US started with the F-117 Nighthawk fighter bomber, then the F-22 Raptor and now the F-35, the world’s most advanced fighter jet.
China is not far behind with its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the Chengdu J-20.
When stealth fighters cannot be detected, why are countries focusing on long-range air-to-air missiles? The answer is fear. China has developed the PL-15 long-range missile, which can be deployed on the J-20, which means the stealth fighter can now attack targets from a distance without being detected. Recently, the PL-17 was deployed on its J-16 fourth-generation fighter. China’s move has changed the balance of power in the air in the volatile region of East Asia.
The P-15 is reportedly capable of destroying targets at a distance of 300 km.
Photo credit: premium.globalsecurity.org
Reuters quoted Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, as saying that a stealth Chinese aircraft could theoretically spot non-stealthy US planes and shoot them down beyond the range where they could retaliate.
Even US stealth aircraft may be forced to fly dangerously close to fire their missiles. “If a Chinese fighter jet outruns a US fighter jet, that means they can get off the first shot,” he said. “It’s hard to outrun something that’s moving at Mach 4.”
The AIM-174B was quickly developed to meet this need. Now, US fighter jets could target Chinese military installations from longer ranges, eliminating the risk of flying close to targets.
Justin Bronk, an airpower and technology expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told Reuters that China is developing longer-range missiles but the radar on the launching aircraft would not be able to see targets at such a distance. “If you make missiles too big and too heavy, you run out of fuel,” he said.
Airborne Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft act as airborne command centers during combat and combat patrol missions. These aircraft detect the enemy from long distances. The new missiles will also be tasked with attacking high-value targets such as AWACs.
Island Chain
Potential direct military confrontations between the US and China could occur near the South China Sea, a major transit route for maritime trade and the US Navy. China has threatened a military invasion of Taiwan and in the event of a full-blown Chinese attack, the US is bound by law to defend Taiwan.
The Taiwan Relations Act mandates that the United States adopt a policy of providing weapons of a defensive character to Taiwan.
American foreign policy statesman John Foster Dulles presented the island chain strategy to keep an eye on USSR and Chinese expansion by establishing military bases in the western Pacific. The USSR collapsed in 1991, but Chinese economic and military expansion made this strategy important.
It employs multiple lines of defense to prevent any military invasion of the U.S. This strategy has its roots in World War II, when Imperial Japan took over much of East Asia and attacked Pearl Harbor, effectively drawing the U.S. into the war.
Any military conflict around the South China Sea would fall within the first island chain, which includes the Kuril Islands, claimed by Japan but under Russian control, the Japanese archipelago, Taiwan, the northern Philippines and Borneo.
The first island chain is a geopolitically important border for US territory, with abundant natural resources and economic importance. Any conflict would mean the US is working closer to China.
The First Island Chain is America’s First Line of Defense
Photo credit: www.960cyber.afrc.af.mil
The US will be drawn even closer to China if Beijing invades Taiwan. The AIM-174B missile will keep its aircraft carriers and fighter jets at a safe distance and keep the PLA’s hunting ships and aircraft carriers out of its range. Reuters quoted a Taiwanese strategist as saying that this would increase the possibility of the US becoming directly involved in a military conflict with China over Taiwan.
This game changer missile will push the US further into the South China Sea region, thus balancing the equation, which is currently in China’s favour.
India and its air-to-air missile arsenal
India has developed the Astra Mk1 beyond visual range air-to-air missile which is operational and is fitted on the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. The Astra Mk1 has a speed of Mach 4.5 and a range of 100 km. The Astra Mk2 and Mk3 are undergoing testing but they are far behind the US and China.
The use of ultra-long-range BVR missiles is based on the requirements of the Indian Air Force or Indian Navy unlike the US and China. Astra Mk1 is operated on the Su-30MKI, so currently only the Indian Air Force operates this missile, but later it will be developed for other aircraft as well. India operates the Russian Novator KS-172 and the French MICA air-to-air missile.
