AIM-260 JATM

The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) being developed and produced by Lockheed Martin. 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.

This program differs from the Long-Range Engagement Weapon being developed by Raytheon. The JATM is also separate from the AIM-174B, also developed by Raytheon for the USN.

Development

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.

The AIM-260 program began in 2017 in response to long-range missiles developed by potential adversaries, specifically the Chinese PL-15. Full scale aerial target testing for the JATM was confirmed to have started as early as April 2020, 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.

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. 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. 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." Raytheon 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 expensive "kick-the-door-down" weapon while the AMRAAM D3 would be a more affordable capacity missile.

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. 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 2023.

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, despite the USAF having previously stated in May 2023 that AIM-260 development and production was on-schedule. The missile is believed to be in initial production by 2024.

See also

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aim-260 Jatm
AIM-120
Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles
Lockheed Martin