| AIM-260 JATM | |
| Type: | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile |
| Origin: | United States |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Is Explosive: | Yes |
| Is Artillery: | Yes |
| Is Vehicle: | Yes |
| Is Missile: | Yes |
| Designer: | Lockheed Martin |
| Production Date: | In development. Expected sometime in 2024. |
| Max Range: | At least [1] [2] |
| Filling: | High explosive blast-fragmentation |
| Speed: | Mach 5 |
| Guidance: | Inertial guidance, two way data link, active radar homing |
| Launch Platform: | Aircraft: |
The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) under development by Lockheed Martin.[3] Designed to address advanced threats, the missile is expected to replace or supplement the AIM-120 AMRAAM currently in US service. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) considers the AIM-260A JATM program to be the number one air-delivered weapon priority for both the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the Navy (USN); and its acquisition out-prioritizes other weapon system improvements and modernization efforts on any fielded aircraft.[4] As of May 2024, the House Armed Services Committee was investigating whether more late-variant AMRAAMs would be required in light of the AIM-260 JATM not having entered full-scale production,[5] though the USAF insisted in May 2023 that AIM-260 development and production was on-schedule.[6]
This program differs from the Long-Range Engagement Weapon being developed by Raytheon.[7] The JATM is also separate from the AIM-174 very long-range AAM, also developed by Raytheon for the USN.
Initial launch platforms were expected to be, and currently are, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, with integration with the F-35 Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II being planned afterward.[8]
The AIM-260 program began in 2017 in response to long-range missiles developed by potential adversaries, specifically the Chinese PL-15.[8] Full scale aerial target testing for the JATM was confirmed to have started as early as April 2020,[9] and testing in general for the missile is currently ongoing. It is yet to achieve initial operational capability (IOC). The AIM-260 production is expected to overtake AIM-120 production by 2026.[8] [10]
Development of the missile has been highly classified; it is a Special Access Program. In FY 2020, the U.S. Air Force appropriated $6.5m for the construction of a custom storage vault at Hill AFB specifically for the JATM, citing the classified nature of the program.
In November 2021, it was revealed that the missile will have similar dimensions to the AIM-120 in order to ensure maximum compatibility with prior launch platform technology.[11] This would ensure compatibility with the F-22 which would allow for a decrease in the U.S. Air Force's fleet of F-22s due to the increase in combat effectiveness.[12] The exact range of the JATM is classified, as is that of its predecessor the AIM-120D-3 variant of the AMRAAM, but defense analysts expect it to outrange the AIM-120D-3 with a range of at least 100+ miles. According to defense editor Steve Trimble of Aviation Week, "We've seen charts for the Air Force range requirements for Eglin Air Force Base showing circles for the test area for AMRAAM and the test area for the JATM [...] the AIM-260 missile has a range circle that's roughly double the size of the AMRAAM circle."[13] RTX has suggested that with the range enhancements of the AIM-120D-3, it would serve as a complement to the JATM; the JATM would be an expense "kick-the-door-down" weapon while the AMRAAM D3 would be a more affordable capacity missile.[14]
On May 2, 2023, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told the Senate Armed Services Committee that JATM will "hopefully" enter production this year, as well as confirming that the JATM is expected to arm the Air Force's upcoming unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft.[15] According to Air Force Major Kevin Autrey, the lead F-22 Raptor operational test pilot with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, live-fire testing of the AIM-260 was slated to begin in summer of 2023.