The US Air Force is quietly laying the groundwork for a new class of missiles that could change how air wars are fought in the Pacific. 

The service is seeking a family of long-range weapons capable of hitting targets more than 1,000 nautical miles away (about 1,150 miles or 1,850 kilometers), a distance far beyond the reach of most air-launched missiles currently in service.

This effort, called the Air Force Long Range Weapon (AFLRW) program, reflects a growing concern inside the Pentagon. Many defence experts have warned that future conflicts may unfold across vast stretches of ocean where aircraft, ships, and military bases are increasingly vulnerable to long-range enemy missiles. 

In such an environment, getting close enough to launch conventional weapons could become extremely risky. The Air Force’s answer is simple in concept but very complex to execute—develop missiles that can destroy targets while launch aircraft remain hundreds or even thousands of miles away from danger.

They are not just looking for missiles that can strike ships and ground targets from extreme distances, but also weapons capable of engaging enemy aircraft far beyond today’s typical combat ranges. 

“The AFLRW is aimed at addressing the next generation of Air-Launched Standoff Weapon variants in line with Department of War priorities,” the Air Force team said. If successful, the program could reshape the balance of power in a region increasingly dominated by China’s expanding military reach.

Building a missile family with unprecedented reach

Details of the program emerged through an Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)  notice announcing a classified industry event scheduled for August at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Air Force is seeking a family of long-range weapons capable of striking air, land, and sea targets from at least 1,000 nautical miles away.

The program includes two variants: an air-to-air missile designed to engage enemy aircraft and an air-to-surface version intended for land and maritime targets. The service plans to prioritize the air-to-air variant and may award contracts to multiple vendors.

“Both variants will have a threshold minimum range of 1,000 NM and be capable of striking respective A/A and A/S targets” in classified defense planning environments in a responsive manner, the AFLCMC team notes.

The Air Force wants contractors capable of delivering fully assembled, tested missiles while managing both design and manufacturing. The weapons must also comply with Weapons Open System Architecture and Government Reference Architecture standards, allowing future upgrades and integration of new technologies. 

As a secondary option, companies could act as “master integrators,” combining subsystems developed by different suppliers into a complete missile. It is “responsible for integrating diverse subsystems into the physical missile shell,” the AFLCMC team said.

While the Air Force has not revealed which aircraft will carry the weapons, the range requirement alone sets the program apart from most existing air-launched systems. 

For comparison, the AIM-120D air-to-air missile used by American fighters can engage targets at distances exceeding 100 miles, while the new weapon is expected to reach more than 1,150 miles.

Preparing for a fight across the Pacific

The missile program reflects growing concern over China’s expanding military capabilities in the Western Pacific. Beijing has spent years building an extensive network of aircraft, ships, missiles, sensors, and air defenses designed to keep adversaries at a distance.

American military planners worry that traditional air operations could become increasingly difficult in such an environment. To address this challenge, the Air Force has been developing what it calls a “long-range kill chain”—the ability to detect, track, and destroy enemy forces, including moving ships, without sending aircraft deep into contested airspace.

We are “seeking the next generation of Air-Launched Long-Range Weapon variants that expand the United States’ ability to hit priority air, land, and sea targets far and fast,” the AFLCMC team said. 

The new missile would fit into a broader US military effort to extend strike ranges. The Army is developing a maritime version of its Precision Strike Missile with a range of up to 540 nautical miles, while the Navy and Air Force are testing new long-range anti-ship weapons. 

Together, these efforts aim to give US forces more options to operate across the vast distances of the Pacific while staying outside the reach of many enemy defenses.

The challenge beyond the missile

The program remains in its early stages, and many technical details—including the missile’s speed, propulsion system, guidance technology, and deployment timeline—have not been disclosed. 

It is also unclear how the Air Force plans to track and engage targets at distances exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, especially in contested environments where communications and sensors could be disrupted.

Even so, this initiative signals how US military planners expect future conflicts to unfold. Rather than relying on aircraft operating close to enemy defenses, the Air Force is investing in weapons that can strike from far beyond traditional combat ranges. 

If successful, the new missile family could become a key part of America’s strategy for operating across the vast distances of the Pacific.

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