Australia announces AIM-260 acquisition

This infographic shows a rendering of the AIM-260 JATM, based on information of the classified missile that US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) published in March 2025. (NAVAIR/Janes) (NAVAIR/Janes)

The Australian government has announced the acquisition of the long-range AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The procurement will make Australia the first country outside the US to operate the missile, the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said on 6 August.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the acquisition at Exercise ‘Pitch Black' 2026 at RAAF Base Darwin. According to Marles, AUD736 million (USD518 million) will be invested to acquire the missiles under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism.

The missile will initially be integrated with RAAF Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, followed by the service's Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler aircraft, the DoD said.

“The acquisition of the AIM-260 JATM will provide air force platforms with a credible deterrent against airborne targets, complementing existing air-to-air missile capabilities and other surface-based missile capabilities across the Australian Defence Force (ADF),” the DoD added.

The AIM-260 is a next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to provide greater capability than existing US air-to-air weapons. Although details about the missile are classified, its fuselage is broadly similar to the AIM-120 family, but lacks the latter's mid-fuselage fins.

The missile is estimated to be about 4 m long and to have a range exceeding 180 km. It is also designed to fit within the internal weapons bay of the Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter. The JATM comprises four principal sections: guidance, a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead, a control unit, and propulsion.