AIM-260 JATM Missile

Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
Category: Missiles & Precision Weapons
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Guidance System Active radar guidance, supporting navigation and networked targeting
Maximum Speed Not publicly disclosed
Launch Compatibility Advanced U.S. fighter aircraft, including planned integration with F/A-18E/F and F-35A
Warhead Technology Conventional air-to-air warhead, detailed configuration classified

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Designation	AIM-260 JATM
Type / Role	Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile, Beyond-Visual-Range Combat
Country of Origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Service Entry / Year Introduced	Not yet operational, development began in 2018
Operational Status	In Development / Flight Testing

2. Performance & Range

Range	Long range, exact range classified
Speed	Classified / not officially disclosed
Ceiling / Altitude Limit	Not publicly disclosed
Accuracy (CEP)	Not publicly disclosed; air-to-air CEP is generally not published
Warhead Type	Conventional air-to-air warhead, detailed specification classified

3. Guidance & Targeting

Guidance System	Active radar seeker with onboard navigation and supporting datalink capabilities
Targeting Mode	Beyond-visual-range, fire-and-forget capability expected
Launch Platform Compatibility	U.S. fighter aircraft, including F/A-18E/F and planned F-35A integration
Seeker Type	Active Radar, detailed seeker specifications classified

4. Physical Characteristics

Length	Not publicly disclosed
Diameter	Not publicly disclosed
Wingspan	Not publicly disclosed
Launch Weight	Not publicly disclosed
Propulsion	Solid-fuel rocket motor, detailed propulsion specifications classified

5. Warhead & Payload

Warhead Weight	Not publicly disclosed
Explosive Type	Conventional air-to-air explosive and fragmentation effects
Detonation Mechanism	Proximity and/or impact fuze, exact configuration classified
Payload Options	Conventional warhead; no public evidence of nuclear payload capability

6. Operational Use & Capabilities

Operational Range Type	Long
Deployment Platform	Air
Target Types	Fighter aircraft, airborne threats and other high-value aerial targets
Combat Proven	No, not publicly confirmed as combat deployed
Users / Operators	United States; Australia has announced plans to acquire the missile

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Technology 8 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Maintenance Efficiency 8 / 10
Range & Endurance 8 / 10

PROS

Designed for longer-range air-to-air engagements than the AIM-120 family.
Intended for modern U.S. fighter aircraft and networked combat operations.
Active radar guidance supports fire-and-forget engagement concepts.
Development involves both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
Designed to address increasingly capable long-range air threats.

CONS

Detailed performance specifications remain classified.
Confirmed maximum range and speed are not publicly available.
Unit production cost has not been officially disclosed.
The missile remains under development and testing.
Actual operational performance cannot yet be independently assessed.

AIM-260 JATM Long Range Air to Air Missile

The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is a U.S. long-range air-to-air missile being developed to provide fighter aircraft with greater beyond-visual-range engagement capability. The program is intended to complement and eventually succeed the AIM-120 AMRAAM family as the U.S. military faces increasingly capable long-range air-to-air weapons.

The JATM program began in 2018 and is led by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. Its development has been highly classified, leaving important performance specifications undisclosed. Publicly available information indicates that the missile is designed for advanced air combat and compatibility with modern U.S. fighter aircraft.

Manufacturer

Lockheed Martin is the primary developer and manufacturer of the AIM-260 JATM. The missile is being developed for U.S. military aviation, with testing involving both Air Force and Navy aircraft. A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet was publicly photographed carrying an AIM-260 during a test flight in May 2026, providing one of the first clear public indications of its flight-test activity.

Speed and Range

Exact maximum speed and effective range remain classified. The AIM-260 is widely described as a long-range air-to-air missile, with an intended range advantage over the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Claims of specific ranges or speeds, including figures exceeding 300 km or Mach 4, have not been officially confirmed and should therefore be treated as estimates rather than specifications.

The missile is expected to use an advanced guidance architecture centered on an active radar seeker, supported by onboard navigation and aircraft or network-derived targeting information.

Cost/Price

There is no publicly confirmed unit price for the AIM-260. Development and procurement costs are handled through U.S. defense contracts, while individual missile pricing can vary according to production quantities, support equipment, spares and associated services. Australia announced in 2026 that it plans to acquire up to 450 AIM-260 missiles under a $736 million package, although that figure represents an acquisition package rather than a confirmed unit missile price.

Reviews

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