The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is set to become the first non-US military force to operate the Lockheed Martin AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), according to FlightGlobal. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the procurement during the Pitch Black airpower exercise in Darwin, noting the acquisition will be facilitated through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.

The weapon is slated for initial integration on the RAAF’s fleet of Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets. Subsequent integration plans include the Lockheed Martin F-35A and the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. While the acquisition marks a significant upgrade to Australia’s long-range strike capabilities, Minister Marles did not provide a specific delivery timeline.

Technical and Strategic Specifications

Contextually, the AIM-260 is designed as a direct, longer-range successor to the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM. Development has been highly classified, though US Navy VX-31 test and evaluation squadron activities have provided public glimpses, including images from May showing the munition carried by an F/A-18F. The RAAF has explicitly distanced itself from the AIM-174B, a larger, SM-6-based long-range missile currently employed by the US Navy.

Why It Matters

This procurement reflects a broader shift in Indo-Pacific security dynamics. As China expands its inventory of high-end, long-range munitions—including the PL-15, PL-16, PL-17, and the ramjet-powered PL-21—allied air forces are under pressure to close the reach gap. By securing the AIM-260, Australia moves to counter these threats, ensuring the RAAF maintains a competitive edge in engagement range. This shift highlights the necessity for integrated air-to-air lethality, moving beyond the traditional reliance on the AIM-120 platform to address modern A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) environments effectively.