The US Air Force’s newly unveiled AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) promises to reshape air warfare with its extended range, advanced guidance and stealth compatibility – just as China’s air power developments intensify the fight for air superiority.
Last month, The War Zone reported that the US Air Force had verified the authenticity of a recently released rendering of the AIM-260A JATM.
The missile, which is similar in size to the AIM-120 AMRAAM, is set to replace the latter in US military service. The JATM, which was included in a US Naval Industry Day briefing, is highly classified as a technical and programmatic specification.
However, it is believed to feature advanced propulsion systems, multi-modal guidance technologies, and the ability to receive guidance from multiple sources such as ground-based radars and satellites.
While little information is publicly available about the AIM-260A’s range, Naval News reports that the latest AIM-120D-3 variant was close to the AIM-260A’s 190-kilometer threshold range, but the final missile is likely to exceed that range.
Renderings reveal a sleek design optimized for high speed and low drag. It has a significantly longer rocket motor than the AIM-120, suggesting significantly improved range and speed capabilities.
The AIM-260A is expected to be installed on stealth fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, as well as on future stealth drones under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. This development reflects the US military’s response to long-range threats, particularly from Chinese missiles.
Despite operational testing, a specific timeline for the AIM-260A’s fielding is still unclear, and there is still no public confirmation of its operational status. The JATM’s advanced propulsion and potential multi-mode seeker technology highlight a significant improvement in US air-to-air combat capabilities.
This development follows the relatively recent introduction of advanced Chinese air-to-air missiles. The People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) has unveiled its J-16 fighter jets equipped with the PL-17 missile, a long-range beyond-visual-range (BVR) weapon designed to neutralize high-value aerial targets such as airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) and tanks.
