EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — May 15, 2026 : The first publicly known images of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) have emerged following a U.S. Navy flight test conducted on May 13, 2026, offering the clearest view to date of the highly classified long-range air-to-air missile being developed to replace the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
The missile was photographed mounted on a VX-31 test squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet before departure from Eglin Air Force Base. Identified by red and yellow hazard bands indicating a live round, the AIM-260 was attached to one of the aircraft’s fuselage weapon stations typically used for AIM-120 missiles or targeting pods.
According to aviation photographer Jonathan Tweedy, the aircraft departed at approximately 11:13 a.m. CST as part of a larger test formation operating over the Gulf of Mexico. The formation included a VX-9 E/A-18G Growler, another VX-31 F/A-18F Super Hornet, and an additional VX-9 F/A-18F. A Tyndall Air Force Base-based E-9A Widget surveillance aircraft was also airborne in the area to clear maritime and airspace traffic during the weapons testing activity.
The VX-31 Super Hornet returned roughly one hour later without the missile attached, indicating that the sortie likely involved either a separation test or a live missile firing. Tweedy noted that the configuration and markings of the missile were consistent with an operational test article rather than a captive-carry training round.
Missile Design and Configuration
The newly released photographs closely match a rendering published by the U.S. Navy in 2025, which the U.S. Air Force later confirmed accurately represented the missile’s external design.
Visual analysis shows that the AIM-260 retains a similar overall form factor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM, a requirement intended to preserve compatibility with existing launch rails and the internal weapons bays of stealth aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. However, the missile incorporates several major aerodynamic changes compared to its predecessor.
Unlike the AIM-120, the AIM-260 lacks mid-body control surfaces and instead uses four trapezoidal tail fins for stabilization and maneuvering. The missile also appears to feature a significantly larger rocket motor section, supporting assessments that it uses either a dual-pulse solid rocket motor or advanced high-energy propellant technology to maintain speed and energy during the terminal phase of flight.
Defense assessments estimate the missile’s range at more than 200 kilometres, with reported minimum requirements around 190 kilometres. Maximum speed is estimated at approximately Mach 5. The missile is expected to use inertial mid-course guidance supported by a two-way datalink and a next-generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker with enhanced electronic counter-countermeasure capabilities.
Development and Earlier Testing
The AIM-260 program is jointly managed by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy and has been under development since 2017. The program was publicly acknowledged in 2019 as part of efforts to maintain a range and performance advantage over advanced foreign air-to-air missile systems, particularly China’s PL-15 and PL-17 missiles.
The May 13 flight followed earlier sensor and integration trials conducted in March 2026. Between March 24 and March 26, a modified Northrop Grumman CRJ-700 testbed aircraft, registered as N806X and operating under the callsign “SCAN 06,” conducted flights over the Gulf of Mexico alongside a Raytheon-operated Boeing 727 test aircraft using the callsign “VOODOO 1.”
The CRJ-700 featured a modified nose radome shaped similarly to the AIM-260 and was used to support testing of sensors, telemetry systems and communications equipment associated with the missile program.
Budget Expansion and Planned Deployment
Recent U.S. Department of Defense budget documents show a major planned increase in AIM-260 procurement and development funding as the program moves toward large-scale production.
Projected spending for the missile program is estimated at approximately $15.6 billion over the coming years. Funding is expected to increase sharply from approximately $894 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to around $2.9 billion in Fiscal Year 2027.
The AIM-260 has reportedly been in low-rate production since 2024, while flight testing has been underway since at least 2020. The timeline for initial operational capability remains classified.
Although primarily intended for U.S. military use, the missile has also been approved for export through foreign military sales channels. The United States recently cleared a procurement package for the Royal Australian Air Force covering up to 450 AIM-260 missiles in a deal valued at more than $2.6 billion.
The missile is expected to enter service first on the F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Super Hornet, followed by integration onto the F-35 Lightning II, F-15EX Eagle II and future Collaborative Combat Aircraft unmanned systems.
The AIM-260 is intended to complement continued modernization of the AIM-120 AMRAAM while extending engagement range and preserving compatibility with existing fighter aircraft weapon stations in contested operational environments.
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