Lockheed Martin and Department of War to accelerate AIM-260

Lockheed Martin has signed a framework agreement with the US Department of War to rapidly accelerate the production and delivery of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM).

The company says JATM is designed to be capable of deterring and defeating current and projected enemy air threats. It has increased range and effectiveness over existing air-to-air weapons and provides an asymmetric advantage to the joint force, Lockheed Martin adds. JATM is compatible with a variety of US Air Force and US Navy aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, making it a highly versatile combat system.

“This agreement builds on years of collaboration to deliver this critical air dominance capability to the warfighter,” said Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We will deliver JATM at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders.”

Lockheed Martin will support the necessary investments to drive the production increase. This agreement forms the basis for a multiyear procurement contract, pending Congressional approval, that provides long-term demand to strengthen and expand the industrial base for the program.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recently announced a $736 million acquisition of JATM. This will strengthen Australian air dominance, enhance interoperability, and provide a credible deterrent.