The AIM-174B ‘SM-6 ALC’ has been given a first official nickname by Commander, Naval Air Forces, marking the first time the missile has been acknowledged with a name since Naval News originally broke the news on its operational debut in July 2024.
The nickname was published in the 2025 Naval Aviation Playbook, Prepared and presented By Commander, Naval Air Forces at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. Naval News also received new details about the missile from a U.S. Pacific Fleet Spokesperson familiar with the matter.
“[The AIM-174B] represents the first dedicated long-range, air-to-air missile employed by the U.S. Navy since the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix in 2004, marking a significant advancement in Naval Aviation combat capabilities.” U.S. Pacific Fleet Spokesperson.
The AIM-174B is fielded in two air wings—CVW-2 and CVW-5. Both are Advanced Air Wings in the U.S. Navy that operate high-end technology as examples and trials for future air wing deployments. Naval News covered CVW-2’s ‘Air Wing of the Future’ at RIMPAC 2024 where it embarked with AIM-174Bs for flight demonstrations and long-range fleet air defense simulations.
The recently debuted addition was on an F/A-18F attached to VFA-102 Diamondbacks, a squadron attached to CVW-5. The Super Hornet was displayed with two AIM-174Bs at MCAS Iwakuni’s JMSDF-USMC Friendship Day 2025, alongside an F-35C from VFA-147 Argonauts. CVW-5 is the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed carrier air wing in 7th Fleet attached to USS George Washington (CVN 73).
U.S. Navy naval aviators pose with a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and a U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II aircraft with VFA-147, CVW-5, inside Hangar 5300, during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force-Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 4, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rylan Adcock)
U.S. Pacific Fleet also hinted at additional capabilities and increments to come for the AIM-174B in a statement to Naval News.
“The SM-6 ALC integrated advanced technology into weapon systems will be executed incrementally to balance today’s readiness with tomorrow’s capabilities.”, U.S. Pacific Fleet Spokesperson.
It is not immediately clear what advanced technology or weapon systems were being referenced, or what technology has been executed incrementally thus far. U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Public Affairs did not comment further on the matter.
The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation website indicates that the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Air Launched Configuration (ALC) completed Developmental Testing and Evaluation (DT&E) and has transitioned to Operational Test (OT&E) and Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E). Additional follow-on efforts are likely as the missile is delivered to the fleet.
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