LongRange

General Atomics says it could shrink its Vektrex howitzer-launched glide munition down to a size small enough for several of them to be packed inside the nose of a missile. The company has already put forward a more specific concept involving an AIM-174B air-to-air missile turned into a strike weapon carrying seven Vektrex-derived submunitions. Being able to load existing and future air- and surface-launched missiles with multiple gliding submunitions could open up new operational possibilities and create additional challenges for defenders.

Naval News was the first to report on the submunition-laden AIM-174B concept after seeing a rendering, seen below, on display at General Atomics’ booth at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition in Paris, France, last week. General Atomics’ Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) division has now provided additional information directly to TWZ.

“We’re exploring a concept for deploying Vektrex-derived maneuvering submunitions from air- and ground-launched missiles to address emerging needs for extended-range precision fires,” Mike Rucker, Vice President of GA-EMS Weapons Programs, told us in a statement. “Our investments in advanced weapons, precision machining, automation and assembly provide a manufacturing foundation to support production as designs qualify and customers commit.”

To take a step back, General Atomics first unveiled Vektrex in 2023, at which time it was called the Long Range Maneuvering Projectile (LRMP). It is an unpowered precision-guided munition with pop-out wings that deploy after launch. Development to date, which has been conducted with support from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, has been focused first on a version of Vektrex that can be fired from standard 155mm howitzers. A concept for a configuration that can be launched via 5-inch naval guns has also been shown.

Vektrex – The Next King of Battle

General Atomics has previously described Vektrex as having “advanced redundant guidance systems” that enable it to hit static or moving targets. The navigation system allows for multiple types of approaches to the target area. In the terminal phase, it can execute a steep dive onto a fixed set of coordinates or follow a differently shaped flight path to that impact point, if desired. It can also switch over to an onboard seeker to find mobile targets. Indirect approach vectors and maneuvering in the latter stages of flight can also improve survivability.

“The underlying artillery application provides the technical starting point [for the submunition concept],” General Atomics’ Rucker told us. “Deployable wings enable aerodynamic glide that multiplies Vektrex’s reach two to three times beyond conventional rounds. Its capabilities include resilient navigation in GPS-degraded or denied environments.”

General Atomics has previously projected the maximum range of a Vektrex round fired from a 155mm howitzer with a 39-caliber barrel to be in excess of 74.5 miles (120 kilometers). The munition’s reach extends further, to more than 124 miles (200), when launched from a longer 52-caliber 155mm howitzer. As a point of comparison, the maximum range of existing U.S. Army 39-caliber 155mm howitzers is generally pegged at around 19 miles when firing unguided rocket-assisted rounds and 25 miles when employing GPS-assisted M982 Excalibur precision-guided shells.

“The missile-carried submunition concept envisions a larger missile carrying and releasing multiple Vektrex-derived maneuvering projectiles,” according to Rucker. “The concept expands the potential delivery options for maneuvering precision payloads, giving prospective customers a concrete configuration to evaluate against their requirements for range, payload, platform compatibility and affordability. Those requirements would guide how we advance the concept.”

“For artillery users, the modernization opportunity is to extend capability while building on existing launcher and support infrastructure. The missile-carried concept explores a different application of that technology,” he added. “While much of the core technology is applicable, this configuration would require additional engineering and validation.”

As noted, General Atomics has already presented one potential pairing in the form of the AIM-174B loaded with seven submunitions. The U.S. Navy officially unveiled the AIM-174B, also known as the Gunslinger, in 2024. It is an air-launched version of the surface-launched Standard Missile-6 (SM-6). The SM-6 is a multi-purpose weapon able to engage a variety of aerial targets, including ballistic missiles and even certain hypersonic threats in the terminal phases of their flight. It can also be employed in a surface-to-surface mode.

The Navy currently describes the AIM-174B as purely an air-to-air missile. However, TWZ has previously highlighted the potential for the Gunslinger to be employed in the air-to-surface mode, especially given its lineage from the SM-6. A version loaded with gliding submunitions could open new options for engaging multiple targets across a broader area, and doing so at extended ranges, just by launching a single missile.

The reach of this particular pairing could be particularly impressive given the surface-launched SM-6’s stated range of well over 200 miles. Unlike the SM-6, which uses a rocket booster for initial launch, the AIM-174 benefits from the altitude and speed of the aircraft firing it. Though not confirmed, Gunslinger’s maximum range by itself can be reasonably understood to be in the hundreds of miles. Vektrex-derived submunitions could easily add dozens of miles of additional range, at least, from their release point.

A version of the AIM-174B in this configuration would enable strikes on targets deeper inside hostile territory while also helping to keep launch platforms away from enemy air defenses. A single missile could also target multiple ships within a surface action group hundreds of miles away. In any scenario, it would also expand the total number of targets a single aircraft could engage on a single sortie.

The full General Atomics rendering showing the submunition-toting Gunslinger also shows it being launched from a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrying another one of these missiles. As such, the jet’s loadout would include 14 gliding submunitions on just two stations. A Super Hornet could carry up to four of these missiles, or a total of 28 submunitions. In this case, the fighter is also depicted carrying two Bullseye cruise missiles, two AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, and two AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Bullseye is a cooperative development between General Atomics and Israeli defense contractor Rafael.

This is also just one potential combination. Vektrex-derived submunitions capable of being released from an AIM-174B could also be loaded into surface-launched SM-6s. Just within the U.S. military today, there are multiple options for firing SM-6s from ships, as well as from launchers on land.

Based on the AIM-174B concept that has been presented now, there are certainly other suitably large missiles in existence today that could carry various numbers of Vektrex-derived submunitions. The U.S. Army notably has plans already for a future version of its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missile loaded with “enhanced” payloads, which could include precision-guided submunitions and/or drones.

Depending on the cost of the submunitions, General Atomics’ Vektrex-based submunition concept could also offer broader magazine depth and supply chain benefits. The 155mm-howitzer-launched Vektrex is already being designed with an eye toward affordability and producibility.

“Our focus is developing capabilities that help U.S., allied and partner forces extend precision fires, maintain effectiveness when navigation is disrupted, and obtain munitions in the quantities they need,” GA-EMS’ Rucker told us. “Vektrex is one way we are addressing those needs through improvements at the munition level.”

It should also be noted here that, in general, the safe release of submunitions from any missile, especially one traveling at very high speeds, can present technical challenges. The payloads are subjected to physical and thermal stresses in the process, which seekers and other systems within also have to withstand. The core Vektrex design does have the benefit of being designed from the outset to be shot from a howitzer, which imparts its own stresses on the projectile. A missile with a Vektrex-derived payload could also perform maneuvers to bleed off energy before release, too.

All this being said, General Atomics has stressed that the idea of Vektrex-derived submunitions loaded into AIM-174Bs or any other missile is still very much in the conceptual stage.

“We are exploring the air-launched submunition concept internally, and it does not currently have a sponsoring customer,” GA-EMS’ Rucker told us. “Our near-term focus is advancing Vektrex’s 155 mm application toward customer procurement, while evaluating additional applications against prospective customers’ operational requirements.”

“That development effort is supported by established manufacturing investments,” he added. “As we announced in June, our Mississippi operations include automated precision machining cells tailored to Vektrex components, together with robotics, assembly and systems integration capabilities supporting advanced weapons programs.”

At the same time, General Atomics is clearly already looking to the future for Vektrex, which could go well beyond the core gun-launched variation.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Denmark is set to acquire Anthem long-range strike weapons from U.S.-based defense startup Covenant, as well as Joint Strike Missile (JSM) cruise missiles from Norway’s Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace. The twin-track approach by the Nordic NATO member will give it all-new options for launching long-range strikes from the ground and air. Furthermore, Denmark’s move reflects a broader European push to acquire longer-range strike options, especially by NATO allies seeking to deter Russia.

Danish Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus announced the planned purchases yesterday. He said the new weapons would strengthen Denmark’s ability to respond to an attack and strike targets “behind enemy lines,” according to Reuters. Copenhagen has not disclosed the number of missiles involved, the value of the purchases, or expected delivery dates.

“We’re in a serious and deteriorating security situation, and that is why we are building up the defense and strengthening our combat power,” Bruus told reporters. The planned acquisitions are a “strong signal that we have the ability to strike back,” he added, without explicitly naming any particular adversary.

The Danish government did say last year that it would pursue new long-range offensive precision weapons, in general, in response to the growing security concerns in Europe amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Bruus’ announcement comes amid a new surge in geopolitical friction between Russia and members of the NATO alliance.

The two new acquisitions will provide Denmark with important complementary strike options. Anthem is a ground-launched weapon, while JSM is designed to be air-launched, including by stealthy F-35 fighters just like those in Danish Air Force service today. Together, the weapons are set to expand the range of platforms from which Denmark can deliver stand-off precision strikes and give its armed forces additional options for attacking high-value military targets.

Anthem is being developed by Covenant, a U.S.-based defense company that has also outlined plans to establish missile production in Germany and Israel. The system’s selection by Denmark gives the company an important European customer as NATO members seek to expand their inventories of long-range weapons.

Covenant’s Anthem is in a category of munitions that increasingly blurs the line between long-range kamikaze drones and traditional cruise missiles. It is designed to offer a lower-cost, longer-range strike capability that can be produced more easily and at greater scale than many existing systems. Covenant has not publicly disclosed the weapon’s range. Still-unconfirmed reports put it at roughly 740 miles (1,200 kilometers). It is also said to carry a warhead weighing more than 200 kilograms (441 pounds). It also uses a solid rocket motor to provide an initial boost at launch before transitioning to a heavy-fuel jet engine for cruise flight.

Currently, it is unclear how exactly Anthem is launched. It has already undergone testing with the U.S. Army, and images from those trials show the weapons being handled on the ground using a tricycle undercarriage. This may point to rocket-assisted takeoffs from runways.

Last month, Covenant announced it had already conducted more than 200 test flights of Anthem and had secured roughly $150 million in orders. It also disclosed that an unidentified international customer was expected to begin receiving German-built weapons before the end of this year. This may well be Denmark, though there could also be other customers that have yet to emerge publicly. Meanwhile, U.S. Army deliveries are expected in 2027, under an accelerated qualification contract.

Anthem reflects a broader push, globally, for new long-range strike weapons that can be manufactured rapidly and in large quantities, potentially trading some of the performance and sophistication of more expensive, ‘exquisite’ weapons for affordability, scalability, and mass availability. Recent conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the war in Ukraine, have underscored the challenges of bolstering stockpiles of critical munitions and replenishing them during prolonged fighting.

JSM, developed by Kongsberg in cooperation with U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, is a traditional air-launched cruise missile capable of being employed against targets on land and at sea. It is capable of being carried internally and externally on the A and C variants of the F-35. The design has also been fit-checked for external carriage on a variety of other tactical jets. As already mentioned, JSM will provide an entirely new stand-off precision-strike option for Denmark’s F-35As. These are the only tactical jets in Danish service today following the retirement of the country’s F-16 Vipers in January.

Kongsberg has identified Denmark as the seventh country to select JSM, although the final contract scope and value remain subject to negotiations. JSM is an enlarged derivative of the surface-launched Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which has also seen growing worldwide sales in recent years, including to the U.S. military. Since 2025, Denmark has also been fielding NSM on its Iver Huitfeldt class frigates and as part of a ground-based coastal defense system.

Since JSM is designed to be air-launched, its maximum range is dependent in part on the altitude at which the missile is released, as well as the speed of the aircraft carrying it. Kongsberg has said in the past the missile can fly out to a range of more than 300 nautical miles, but also that its reach is significantly cut back when it is employed in its low-altitude penetration mode.

The JSM carries a 260-pound warhead and uses a combination of GPS, inertial navigation (INS), and terrain mapping to guide it toward its target. The terrain-mapping capability provides an additional means of navigation, helping the missile maintain its course even in environments where GPS connectivity is degraded or unavailable.

The missile switches over to an imaging infrared seeker to provide precise target discrimination during the terminal phase of flight. Because the seeker operates passively, it does not rely on emitting radiofrequency signals, reducing the risk of detection and making it immune to conventional radiofrequency jamming. The agile JSM’s overall design also includes reduced-signature features to help limit its detectability and improve its survivability on the way to the target.

A two-way datalink also allows the missile to receive updated targeting information while en route, or to be redirected toward an entirely different target during the mid-course phase of flight.

The dual purchases build on a broader Danish effort to field new options for holding targets at extended ranges at risk. Denmark previously operated eight M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), but retired them in 2004. The country is now introducing Israel’s PULS rocket artillery system, which can employ different rocket and missile types depending on the mission. Presently, the Danish military looks to be fielding PULS just with artillery rockets.

In terms of Denmark’s current and future ground-based capabilities, PULS – which stands for Precise and Universal Launch System – and Anthem will serve different. In Danish service, PULS provides a flexible rocket artillery capability, while Anthem will offer a cruise-missile-like option for longer-range precision attacks.

The acquisition of JSM also reflects the importance of Denmark’s F-35 fleet to its future combat capability. Air-launched weapons offer mobility and flexibility, but their employment depends on available aircraft. In this context, Denmark’s planned expansion of its F-35 fleet from 27 to 43 aircraft, announced in October 2025, will provide a larger platform base for its emerging long-range strike capability.

Følg en dansk F-35 pilot i aktion på amerikansk himmel

There could be some overlap here between Denmark’s growing array of air- and ground-based strike capabilities, as well. Dutch F-35As demonstrated their ability to provide targeting data to PULS launchers during a NATO exercise last year. A ground-launched weapon like Anthem also provides an alternative long-range strike option that does not require a fighter to carry it aloft, creating additional operational flexibility.

For Denmark, acquiring JSMs and Anthems also offers the appeal of adding a capable higher-end munition alongside a more affordable, readily available long-range strike weapon. Reuters has reported that Covenant expects Anthem to eventually cost in the mid-six-figure range, although a final unit price has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, the JSM has a reported unit cost of approximately $2.8 million.

As mentioned, the announcement of the Anthem and JSM purchase is fully in line with prior statements from the government in Copenhagen about acquiring new long-range strike options. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously urged the military to accelerate procurement across the board after years of comparatively limited defense spending.

The long-range strike acquisitions also fit into a broader NATO effort to strengthen deterrence across the Baltic region and the alliance’s northeastern flank.

Denmark occupies a strategically important position linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, while its forces contribute to NATO’s regional presence and reinforcement plans. The ability to strike targets deep behind enemy lines will provide a new ability for Denmark to threaten an adversary’s military infrastructure, command facilities, and other critical targets.

Denmark is far from alone in pursuing new long-range strike capabilities. In September, Latvia moved to acquire Anduril’s Barracuda family of long-range strike missiles, building on its earlier order for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles. Poland is expanding its own layered strike capabilities, while France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom are working on the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative to accelerate the development and procurement of next-generation weapons. The efforts reflect a wider shift across Europe toward restoring deep-strike capabilities that have been relatively scarce among NATO’s European members since the end of the Cold War.

All of this is happening while the Baltic states, in particular, increasingly voice their concerns that Russia could seek to exploit vulnerabilities along NATO’s northeastern flank. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all warned about the risks posed by Russian force expansion, airspace incursions, sabotage, and other potential provocations. In response, NATO has stepped up its regional posture through initiatives, including Operation Eastern Sentry.

The news about Denmark’s new long-range strike plans has already drawn a heated reaction from Moscow. Russia’s embassy in Copenhagen accused Denmark of pursuing confrontation with Russia and warned of “inevitable disastrous consequences,” Reuters reported.

Many details about the planned Anthem and JSM acquisitions still remain to be learned. However, the announcement yesterday is a clear signal of Copenhagen’s intention to give its armed forces a more substantial ability to threaten targets at distance, and reflects still-growing trends elsewhere in Europe.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) has been spotted carrying both the AIM-174B and AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. This represents the first known publicly documented instance of these two advanced air-to-air weapons appearing on the same aircraft.

The aircraft was photographed on October 14 by aviation photographer @photosxlyss2, who shared the result with TWZ. The same Super Hornet was also carrying an IRST21 infrared search-and-track pod on its centerline station.

Two critical elements of the modernization of the U.S. military’s air-to-air missile arsenal, the AIM-174B and AIM-260 provide complementary capabilities, addressing different aspects of the Navy’s evolving air-combat requirements.

Based on the SM-6 missile family, the AIM-174B provides the Navy with an extended-range air-to-air weapon. Its size and reach make it particularly relevant to engagements against high-value airborne assets, including aerial refueling tankers and airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Threatening these support platforms at extended distances complicates an adversary’s ability to sustain fighter operations, maintain airborne surveillance, and coordinate engagements across domains. Such targets are especially important in the Indo-Pacific, where distances are vast and combat aircraft may depend heavily on tanker support to reach and remain on station over contested areas.

 The range of this missile is classified but should be far in excess of that of the AIM-120D AMRAAM, probably in the hundreds of miles, as discussed in the video below.

How The Navy’s New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble

The AIM-174B has already appeared in several major exercises, including RIMPAC 2024 and Northern Edge 2025. Following developmental trials at RIMPAC, the weapon entered Live Fire Test and Evaluation in 2025. Some examples of the missile have since reached forward-deployed Navy squadrons in Japan.

The AIM-260, meanwhile, is being developed to provide a next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air capability. It is intended to address increasingly sophisticated aerial threats and improve upon the capabilities of the very widely used AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) family.

It was another F/A-18F from VX-31 on which the AIM-260 was first publicly seen when departing Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in May of this year. The same type of weapon has since also appeared on a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F, as you can read about here.

The AIM-260’s precise specifications remain classified, but it is designed to deliver significantly greater range than the AIM-120 AMRAAM while maintaining a broadly similar form factor. Its compact design is important, as the missile is intended for both external carriage and internal carriage aboard aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35.

The AIM-260 is being developed to counter the growing long-range air-to-air threat posed by China’s PL-15 and other advanced missiles. Although no official range figures have been disclosed, previous reporting has indicated a target range of at least 120 miles, with the potential to reach considerably farther.

It is unclear when the first operational AIM-260s may begin entering the U.S. inventory. Together, however, the two weapons give the Super Hornet access to a broader range of engagement options, depending not only on the range of the target, but also on the nature of the engagement and overall tactical situation.

The presence of an IRST21 pod is also noteworthy. The infrared search-and-track system passively detects and tracks airborne targets rather than relying exclusively on radar emissions.

Passive sensing is especially valuable in environments where electromagnetic emissions must be managed carefully. Although an IRST system does not automatically provide all the information needed to support a long-range missile engagement, it can contribute to a broader sensor picture and potentially help crews detect targets without immediately revealing their own position through radar emissions.

After a long and troubled development, a full-rate production contract for Block II IRST21 sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters was awarded this time last year, as you can read about here.

The appearance of both missiles on a VX-31 Super Hornet is a notable development in the Navy’s ongoing testing of advanced air-combat capabilities. VX-31, based at the sprawling Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, conducts test and evaluation activities involving naval aviation weapons and systems.

On this occasion, the jet is carrying inert missiles (denoted by their blue bands) in a captive-carry configuration. The flight may have been part of ongoing weapons-integration testing, handling and compatibility evaluations, or another test activity.

At the very least, the configuration offers an intriguing glimpse into how a Navy Super Hornet might go into battle in a future high-end air combat scenario. Pairing the extended-range AIM-174B with the next-generation AIM-260 would provide a powerful combination.

Added to those two will be the AIM-424 Malice, an all-new, very long-range air-to-air missile, the existence of which was only disclosed in August of this year. This is reportedly a two-stage design, which should result in extreme range — said to be in excess of 250 nautical miles — and very high speed. It isn’t known where Malice slots in next to the AIM-174B, although the newer missile is purpose-designed for air launch, unlike the Standard-derived weapon.

As the service prepares for increasingly demanding scenarios in the Indo-Pacific, the new photo underscores the fact that the ability to threaten a wider range of targets at greater distances is one of the key considerations in the evolution of the Navy’s carrier-based fighter force.

With thanks to @photosxlyss2_; check out more of her work via PhotosxLyss on Facebook.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com