The AIM-174B transforms into a "Matrix Missile" GD carrying 7 gliding submunitions. The F/A-18 can carry 28 munitions.

General Atomics transformed the AIM-174B "Gunslinger" missile originally used in air combat into a "cluster missile" capable of carrying seven small Vektrex glide-guided munitions.

[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Comprehensive Report] General Atomics Atomics has proposed a new long-range precision strike concept. It plans to transform the AIM-174B "Gunslinger" missile originally used in air combat into a "submunition munition". It will be equipped with 7 small Vektrex glide-guided munitions on the front end of the missile body. After the fighter aircraft launches a single missile, it can release multiple submunitions at a long distance to attack different targets respectively, further expanding the ability to strike outside the zone.

The military news website "The War Zone" reported that General Atomics showed relevant concept drawings at the 2026 European Naval Show (Euronaval) in Paris, France. Its electromagnetic systems department (GA-EMS) confirmed that it is studying to shrink and integrate Vektrex into air-launched or ground-launched missiles to meet the needs of long-range precision firepower.

Vektrex was first announced in 2023, formerly known as "Long Range Mobile Munition" (LRMP). It is an unpowered glide-guided munition with deployable wings, mainly used for launching 155mm howitzers. General Atomics pointed out that Vektrex has anti-GPS interference navigation capabilities and can attack fixed and moving targets. When launched by a 39-caliber howitzer, the range exceeds 120 kilometers, and when using a 52-caliber barrel, it can exceed 200 kilometers.

The AIM-174B selected for this concept is an air-launched version of the US Navy's SM-6 "Standard Six" missile. It will be officially released in 2024 and is currently positioned as a long-range air-to-air missile. Since the SM-6 itself has ground and sea strike capabilities, General Atomics believes that the AIM-174B also has the potential to be converted into a long-range precision strike weapon.

According to the concept drawing, a single AIM-174B can carry 7 Vektrex-derived submunitions. If the F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" fighter aircraft is mounted with 2, it can carry 14 submunitions; when it is mounted with up to 4, it can carry 28. Since the SM-6's public range exceeds 320 kilometers, coupled with the height and speed advantages of air-launched missiles, as well as the gliding distance of submunitions after release, it is expected to attack deep enemy targets from hundreds of kilometers away in the future, and even attack multiple warships at the same time.

In addition, General Atomics is also evaluating integrating relevant submunitions into ship-launched or land-launched SM-6, and other large missiles may also become carriers, thereby increasing the number of targets that can be attacked with a single launch.

However, General Atomics emphasized that this technology is still in the company's internal concept research stage, and there is no formal customer support, nor has it completed missile integration and actual launch verification. Since the release of submunitions during high-speed flight involves aerodynamic, thermal stress and seeker tolerance issues, further engineering development is still required.

General Atomics said that at this stage, it will prioritize the 155mm Vektrex into the procurement stage. In the future, it will evaluate the missile mounting configuration based on customer needs to provide more options for long-range precision strikes.