As part of Exercise Northern Edge 2025 held in Alaska, the U.S. Navy revealed that it once again deployed its new AIM-174B air-to-air missiles, now part of the arsenal of F/A-18 Super Hornets operating from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). In particular, this represents an occasion where the service carries out specialized training in new combat tactics and the integration of new weaponry alongside its neighbor and ally Canada, while the carrier and its embarked air wing become the third to participate in trials with the new SM-6 missile variant.
According to reports from U.S. specialized media, testing with the new AIM-174Bs took place in the presence of senior military and political authorities. Among them were the current Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher W. Grady, as well as the officer in charge of Alaskan Command, Lieutenant General Case A. Cunningham. Additionally, U.S. senators connected to the defense portfolio were also observed attending the event.
Looking at the AIM-174B’s deployment history, it should be noted that USS Abraham Lincoln is not the first carrier to deploy aircraft equipped with this weapon, as USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) also fielded it during the most recent RIMPAC exercises. Later, the missile was seen as part of the arsenal of an F/A-18 Super Hornet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9, which operated during Exercise Gray Flag 2024. By May of this year, aircraft aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) also carried the weapon during a port visit to Japan, while in August it was again observed during the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning that the new AIM-174B forms part of broader U.S. efforts to develop long-range air-to-air missiles for its aircraft—an area that also includes the AIM-260A missiles of the U.S. Air Force. Specifically, this new weapon is intended for integration onto stealth fighters such as the F-22 Raptor, which have also been seen in the context of Exercise Northern Edge 2025. While much about it remains classified, it is known that it is designed as a longer-range option than the current AIM-120 AMRAAM and as a response to China’s development of the PL-17 missile.
Cover image: Sailor Shepard Fosdyke Jackson
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