RAAF to acquire AIM-260 JATM

Defence will acquire the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), manufactured by Lockheed Martin, at a cost of nearly $736 million. It will equip Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Super Hornets, Lightning IIs and Growlers with a new high speed, long-range air-to-air missile. Deliveries are expected to begin from next year.

Australia will be the first country to operate the AIM-260 JATM outside the United States. The missile is being acquired under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangement from the US Government. It will first be integrated onto Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet, followed by the F‑35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler, says Defence in a media release.

The AIM-260 program is highly classified but estimates of its speed and range suggest it is a Mach 5 missile with a range of at least 200km. Development of JATM began in the USA in about 2017; the weapon is being developed for both the US Navy and USAF and it will equip US Navy Super Hornets and USAF F-22 Raptors initially, followed by the F-35 and F-15EX. However, although production reportedly began in 2024, it has not reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in the USA as yet.

 “This announcement is the latest milestone in the delivery of long-range, high‑tech capabilities for our Defence Force,” said Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. “The Albanese Government continues to deliver critical capabilities that will allow the ADF to strike at a longer range, deter any adversary and protect our national interests.”

Pat Conroy, the Minister for Defence Industry, added, “JATM missiles are some of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons in the world, and Australia will be the first country to operate them outside the US.

“This is made possible thanks to the Albanese Government’s record investment in Defence, including up to $36 billion over the next decade for Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance.”

The 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Program (IIP) reiterated the need to invest in a layered air and missile defence architecture that can detect and counter threats, says Defence. The acquisition of the AIM-260 JATM will provide RAAF platforms with a credible deterrent against high-speed, long-range airborne targets, complementing existing air-to-air missiles and other surface-based missile capabilities across the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It will also further enhance Australia’s interoperability with the United States.