Raymond Marshall wrote:

draggy. ISTR that the Swiss and maybe the Finns were interested in
developing a pure AAM pylon that would be much smaller and less draggy than
the current pylons, but I don't know if that ever went forward.

You can see the results of that research on the F-18 E/F as
stations 2 and 10.

I think not. 2 & 10 are designed to carry 1,000 lb. A/G stores IIRR, far heavier
than needed for an AAM, and in addition there's no room for such a pylon on an
F-18A/C wing. The intent was to replace the current 2 & 8; presumably 3 and 7
wouldn't need to be carried for the AD role in Swiss or Finnish airspace. At
most they might need a C/L tank.

Guy