AIM-174B Gunslinger
| AIM-174B Gunslinger | |
|---|---|
AIM-174 missile on an F/A-18F, 4 May 2025 | |
| Type | Very long-range air-to-air missile
|
| Place of origin | United States of America |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2021(?)–present; Testing may have begun as early as 2015 |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,900 lb (860 kg) |
| Length | 15.5 ft (4.7 m) |
| Diameter | 13.5 in (0.34 m) |
| Wingspan | 62.0 in (1.57 m) |
| Warhead | High-explosive blast-fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 140 lb (64 kg) |
Detonation mechanism | Radar and contact/impact/proximity fuze |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket motor |
Operational range | 150–250 mi (240–400 km)+ |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3.5 (2,664.2 mph; 4,287.7 km/h; 1.2 km/s) |
Guidance system | Inertial guidance, terminal active and semi-active radar homing |
Launch platform | Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
The AIM-174B Gunslinger is a very long-range air-to-air missile (AAM) developed by U.S. defense contractor Raytheon and used by the United States Navy (USN). The AIM-174B is a derivative of the RIM-174B Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM, Standard Missile-6, or SM-6) surface-to-air missile, a member of the extended Standard Missile family, with the USN describing the AIM-174B as the "Air-Launched Configuration" of the SM-6. The AIM-174B's existence was first revealed publicly in July 2024 at RIMPAC 2024 and has been confirmed to be capable of being carried and launched only by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Described as a "massive" AAM, the Gunslinger has a confirmed range of 150 miles (130 nautical miles or 240 kilometers), though it is widely speculated that the range may be much greater.
In addition to the AIM-174's air-to-air role, the Gunslinger is believed capable of engaging other missiles (including ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons), and may also serve as an air-to-ground and anti-ship missile.