The US Department of Defense has signed a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin aimed at expanding production capacity for the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), a next-generation air-to-air weapon.
The agreement was established under the Arsenal of Freedom initiative, which seeks to increase domestic munitions production. It provides a framework for potential multiyear procurement of the AIM-260 and is designed to give key suppliers greater visibility into future demand.
With longer-term production requirements in view, Lockheed Martin and its munitions supply chain can use the framework to invest in manufacturing infrastructure, workforce development, and improved production efficiency.
AIM-260 Development and Procurement
The AIM-260 JATM is a long-range air-to-air missile being developed to complement and eventually replace the medium-range AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
The US Air Force and US Navy program remains highly classified and is intended to deliver greater engagement range and enhanced resistance to enemy countermeasures. The weapon is being developed amid the emergence of increasingly capable air-to-air missiles, including China’s PL-15 and PL-17.
Development of the AIM-260 was underway by at least 2017, with initial operational deployment originally planned for 2022, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. Flight testing began in 2020, but integration challenges involving fifth-generation fighter aircraft contributed to delays.
The missile is now approaching initial fielding on the F-22 Raptor.
The US Air Force and US Navy publicly requested funding for JATM procurement for the first time in their Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The request included approximately $670.5 million for procurement and another $647.8 million for continued development, although the services did not disclose the number of missiles planned for acquisition.
