AIM-260 JATM Air-to-Air Missile Enters Production Phase
USAF Weapon System Advances to Next Stage of Development
Program Launched to Counter China's Long-Range Missiles
The United States Air Force (USAF) has announced that the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) has entered the production phase. The AIM-260 is designed to replace the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), which has been in service for decades. The new missile system is intended to counter the growing threat posed by long-range missiles developed by potential adversaries, primarily China.
The AIM-260 program was launched in 2017 in response to China's development of long-range air-to-air missiles, particularly the PL-15. The United States has closely guarded the performance goals of the AIM-260, but it is believed to have a significantly longer range and higher speed than the AIM-120. Some experts believe that the AIM-260's fly-out speed may exceed Mach 4, while the PL-15 has a burnout speed of over Mach 5.
The development of the AIM-260 is a top priority for the USAF, which sees it as essential to maintaining air superiority in the face of China's increasingly capable air defense system. The USAF is planning to procure thousands of AIM-260 missiles, and the full-rate production is expected to begin in the coming years.
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