International : The US has deployed its new long-range air-to-air missile that could potentially disrupt the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific in the US-China 'Cold War'. The AIM-174B missile, onboard the US Navy's F-18 Super Hornet, as seen in many pictures, is known to have an operational range of approximately 400 km.

The AIM-174B derivative of the Raytheon SM-6 surface-to-air missile operated out of 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 reportedly first spotted during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world's largest naval exercise with 26 participants. The missile was attached to a hardpoint under the wings of the Super Hornet, garnering attention due to its potential to disrupt the balance of power in the air.

All About AIM-17B

Air Interceptor Missile (AIM)-174B is the 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 propels the missile into the air, followed by a solid rocket booster and sustainer motor of the missile work to hit the target.

The SM-6 weighs around 1,500 kilograms, while the AIM-174 weighs approximately 850 kg due to no booster motor. The US Navy's new missile has a speed of Mach 3.5, i.e. 3.5 times the speed of sound. The missile is considered to be a direct equivalent of the Russian Rh-37 Vympel long-range hypersonic air-to-air missile with a range of 400 km and the Chinese PL-15 long-range missile has a range of 300-350 km.

China PLA Navy has reportedly deployed aadvanced version of PL-15, the PL-17 missile, with a range of 400 km. 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 the missile were out of service in 2004.

During the Cold War, the US Navy's doctrine used long-range AIM-54 Phoenix to defeat Russian air threats before they could come closer to carrier battle groups. After the USSR broke up and the Russian Navy's strength fell, the US Navy stopped investing in such missiles and retired the AIM-54 Phoenix. Today, the development of the AIM-174B over 30 years after the Soviet Union broke proves the US Navy is once again returning to its Cold War naval doctrine, with China replacing Russia as the main maritime threat.

Why air-to-air missiles in the age of stealth fighters?

The US and China are extensively building new generation stealth fighter jets that can evade enemy radars by going undetected and striking inside their territory. The US began with the F-117 Nighthawk fighter bomber, then the F-22 Raptor and now the F-35, the most advanced fighter jet in the world.

China is not behind with its Chengdu J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

When stealth fighters can avoid detection, then why are nations focusing on long-range air-to-air missiles? The answer is fear. China developed the PL-15 long-range missile, which can be deployed on the J-20, meaning, now a stealth fighter can strike targets from far away without getting detected. Recently, the PL-17 was deployed on its J-16 fourth-generation fighter. China's move shifted the balance of power in the air in the volatile region of East Asia.