Canberra is committing nearly 736 million Australian dollars ($520.1 million) to arm the Royal Australian Air Force with the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM).
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles verified the planned procurement during an exercise in Darwin, positioning the Oceanian country as the first international operator of the US-made air-to-air weapon.
Once delivered, the high-speed, long-range missile will initially integrate onto Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet combat aircraft before expanding to its F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler fleets.
“JATM missiles are some of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons in the world,” Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy commented on the deal, noting that the purchase is backed by a 36-billion Australian dollar ($25.4 billion) decade-long focus on guided weapons.
Up to 450 Missiles Expected
The transaction builds on Washington’s April approval of a broader AIM-260 foreign military sale to Australia worth more than $3 billion.
The move cleared the potential transfer of up to 450 missiles, integration testbeds, guided test units, spares, and related equipment.
Shipments under that arrangement are projected to begin in 2033.
Secretive Weapon
The next-generation AIM-260 JATM provides a beyond-visual-range capability designed to succeed the AIM-120 AMRAAM, supporting the layered air and missile defense goals outlined in Australia’s latest National Defence Strategy.
Most of the weapon’s data remain classified since its development in 2017, but analysts predict that the projectile will exceed the range of its predecessor’s 160-kilometer (99-mile) record, while preserving next-generation architecture and capabilities.
In the US military, the AIM-260 will be distributed across the F-22 Raptors and Super Hornets, and eventually for the nation’s upcoming F-47 sixth-generation fighter jets.
“The Albanese Government continues to deliver critical capabilities that will allow the [Australian Defence Force] to strike at a longer range, deter any adversary and protect our national interests,” Marles stated.