The new and somewhat secretive AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), an air-to-air missile Raytheon is developing for the U.S. Air Force, made an appearance recently in an informational booklet released for the public by the Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR’s) Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation & Strike Weapons.
Here is what we know.
Curtain Pullback
The AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile is a highly secretive Special Access Program developed to counter the increasingly long-range advanced weapons wielded by foreign adversaries, particularly China.
Based on the provided image, the new AIM-260 JATM looks to be optimized for low drag and long range.
Importantly, it will have the same form factor—the missile’s footprint or shape—as the older AIM-120. This will ensure compatibility with systems that use the older missile.
The new rocket’s motor also seems to be longer than the AIM-120’s—indeed, it appears to constitute almost half of the AIM-260A’s length.
Meant as a Stop-Gap
The AIM-260 JATM is not yet known to be in service with the U.S. Air Force. This means that until the JATM gets online, a bridge weapon to use in the longer ranges will be needed—one that will be an advanced version of the AIM-120 air-to-air missile.
The AIM-120D is an interim measure that operates to a greater range than its predecessor.
Ultimately, the AIM-260 and an advanced AIM-120 derivative may be employed together, offering the Air Force a high/low mix of capabilities in which the longer-range AIM-260 strikes targets from extreme ranges in the initial stages of an engagement, and the low-range missile is retained for use at closer ranges.
The Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), an AIM-120 derivative, likely has a range of about 100 miles, whereas the AIM-260’s range would, in all likelihood, exceed 120 miles.
Advanced Propellant
A more aerodynamic design that has fewer fins as well as a larger engine section is certainly one way to increase range. However, the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile’s propellant may also have a higher energy density than current alternatives.
In 2023, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), announced it had made important advances in propellant.
“The Next-Generation Highly Loaded Grain project team has matured the technology and seeded the development of future mission-modular propulsion systems that can increase weapon ranges by up to 1.5x while maintaining inner boundaries for short-range and time-critical missions,” NAWCWD explained.
Another range-extending option could be a smaller warhead design that would leave slightly more internal space for additional propellant.
In addition, the AIM-260 does not retain the four fins along the rocket’s body used by some previous air-to-air missiles, further decreasing the new missile’s drag.
Key Concern
Of high concern for the Air Force is the PL-17, an extremely long-range air-to-air missile in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. At about 20 feet long, the PL-17 is some 7 feet longer than the AIM-120 family of missiles.
It also boasts an incredibly long range of 250 miles.
The PL-17 is intended to target and engage high-value targets, rather than taking out single fighters jets. Its target list would likely include Early Warning and Control aircraft, as well as tankers and logistical aircraft.
At this stage, very little is known about the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, other than it will offer a potentially significant boost in range to the fighter jets that equip it.
When integrated with U.S. stealth fighters like the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II, the AIM-260 JATM would be a very potent air-to-air missile indeed. For now, we wait.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
