USA Approves Sale of Advanced AIM-260 JATM Long-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Australia

The United States has officially approved the export of the latest AIM-260A JATM air-to-air missiles to Australia, making it the first export customer for these long-range missiles.

According to Naval News, the Australian deal includes the supply of 450 production missiles, as well as a number of test items, including five inert missiles and thirty guided test carriers.

The total value of the contract is estimated at approximately $2.6 billion, and with the inclusion of associated equipment, it could reach $3.1 billion. It is expected that the first deliveries to Australia will not take place before the third quarter of 2033, due to the heavy load on production lines and the prioritization of meeting the needs of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The AIM-260A missiles are intended to enhance the combat capabilities of the Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet, and later, the F-35A Lightning II. The JATM is seen as a key element in maintaining air superiority in the face of increasing competition in the skies and the emergence of long-range missiles from potential adversaries.

Despite the missile not yet being in service with the U.S. military, the decision to export it to Australia may indicate that close U.S. allies already see a need for missiles that significantly outperform the capabilities of the AIM-120.

Currently, no official specifications for the missile have been disclosed. However, it is known from government discussions that the missile will be equipped with an active radar homing head with a two-way data link for trajectory correction and an inertial navigation system. It is expected that the missile’s speed will reach Mach 5. While the range remains classified, company representatives have stated that it will be “significantly greater” than that of the AIM-120D-3, whose exact specifications have also not been officially revealed.

Militarnyi previously reported that the U.S. Navy and Air Force had allocated budget funds to purchase AIM-260, the new long-range air-to-air missile.