{"id":29987,"date":"2026-09-17T17:19:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:19:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=29987"},"modified":"2026-09-17T17:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:20:04","slug":"lockheed-martin-aim-260-jatm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/lockheed-martin-aim-260-jatm\/","title":{"rendered":"The US has unveiled a new secret missile, the AIM-260: what is known about it"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>American <strong data-start=\"93\" data-end=\"194\">Lockheed Martin has publicly revealed details of its new AIM-260 JATM air-to-air missile for the first time<\/strong>, which has been developed in secrecy for years. It is designed to counter modern long-range aerial threats, in particular China\u2019s new-generation fighter jets. At the same time, the company has agreed with the Pentagon to ramp up production of the missile rapidly, given the need to replenish ammunition stocks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\">\n<p><strong>Key points at a glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lockheed Martin has unveiled the AIM-260 JATM missile.<\/li>\n<li>It was developed in secret over a number of years.<\/li>\n<li>The F-22 and F-35 will be equipped with the missile.<\/li>\n<li>It has a greater range than current models.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"luc9ab\" data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"931\">What is known about the AIM-260?<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"933\" data-end=\"1053\">The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile is marketed as <strong data-start=\"991\" data-end=\"1052\">a new-generation missile designed to secure air superiority<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1055\" data-end=\"1366\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/pentagon-zbilshennia-vyrobnytstva-zbroi\/\">Lockheed Martin<\/a> claims that it has a greater range and is more effective than current American \u00abair-to-air\u00bb missiles. The exact specifications, in particular the maximum range, speed, type of guidance system and cost per missile, remain classified.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1368\" data-end=\"1670\">One of the main tasks of the AIM-260 is said to be countering new long-range aerial threats, in particular the Chinese stealth fighter <strong data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1514\">J-20<\/strong>. The missile was developed as the US\u2019s response to the rapid advancement of Chinese air-to-air systems.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"1uieebw\" data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1708\">The missile will be fitted to the F-22 and F-35<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"1799\">The new AIM-260 is set to be integrated into several types of US combat aircraft.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1801\" data-end=\"2019\">Low-profile fighter jets are cited as being among the main platforms <strong data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"1894\">The F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II<\/strong>. Lockheed Martin also states that the missile is compatible with various US Air Force and US Navy platforms.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2021\" data-end=\"2403\">In fact, the AIM-260 is set to be the next major step forward following the AIM-120 AMRAAM family, which for decades has been one of the US\u2019s primary beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapons. The US Air Force has previously stated explicitly that the JATM is intended to offer improved long-range capabilities and greater resilience to electronic warfare measures.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"13xzqch\" data-start=\"2405\" data-end=\"2444\">The US is set to ramp up production sharply<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2446\" data-end=\"2614\">Alongside the rocket\u2019s unveiling, Lockheed Martin announced that <strong data-start=\"2505\" data-end=\"2559\">a framework agreement with the US Department of Defence<\/strong>, which is intended to speed up the production and delivery of the AIM-260.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2826\">The agreement lays the groundwork for a long-term contract for the procurement of missiles. Lockheed Martin has also agreed to invest in expanding its production capacity at its own expense.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2828\" data-end=\"3159\">Reuters attributes the ramp-up in production to the need to replenish the US and its allies\u2019 missile stocks following <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/analitika\/us-pac3-spending-impact-ukraine\/\">high rates of ammunition consumption<\/a> in modern conflicts. The publication cites the recent war with Iran as a separate factor, which has significantly depleted US and allied stocks.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3161\" data-end=\"3389\">This is part of a wider trend: the war in Ukraine and the fighting in the Middle East have shown that precision-guided missiles can be used up much faster than the industry is able to replace them.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"5y58cj\" data-start=\"3391\" data-end=\"3437\">Australia will become the first foreign operator<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3439\" data-end=\"3476\">The AIM-260 has already attracted the interest of the US\u2019s allies.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3478\" data-end=\"3795\">In August, Australia announced the acquisition of JATM for approximately <strong data-start=\"3539\" data-end=\"3573\">736 million Australian dollars<\/strong>. It is set to become the first country outside the US to receive the new missile. It will initially be integrated onto Australian F\/A-18F Super Hornets, and subsequently onto the F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3797\" data-end=\"3863\">The number of missiles purchased and the unit price have not been disclosed.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3865\" data-end=\"4030\">The Australian Ministry of Defence has explicitly emphasised that the main advantage of the AIM-260 is <strong data-start=\"3942\" data-end=\"3991\">increased range for engaging aerial targets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"1zhb4f\" data-start=\"4032\" data-end=\"4071\">The project remained classified for years<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4073\" data-end=\"4163\">The existence of the AIM-260 has been known for a long time, but most of the details of the programme have not been disclosed.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4165\" data-end=\"4387\">The first public images of the rocket did not appear until May 2026. Lockheed Martin has now officially begun to discuss the programme for the first time and has confirmed that production is being scaled up.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4389\" data-end=\"4555\">President of Lockheed Martin\u2019s Missiles and Fire Control division <strong>Tim Kehill<\/strong> described JATM as one of the most important American systems for ensuring air superiority.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4557\" data-end=\"4770\">Despite the partial declassification of the programme, the key specifications of the AIM-260 remain classified. This is why it is not yet possible to directly compare its actual range with that of the latest Chinese or European missiles.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430 Lockheed Martin \u0443\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0435 \u043f\u0443\u0431\u043b\u0456\u0447\u043d\u043e \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0434\u0435\u0442\u0430\u043b\u0456 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0457 \u0440\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0442\u0438 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0443 \u00ab\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0440\u044f-\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0440\u044f\u00bb AIM-260 JATM, \u044f\u043a\u0443 \u0440\u043e\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0440\u043e\u0437\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043b\u044f\u043b\u0438 \u0432 \u0443\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0445 \u0441\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0435\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456. \u0412\u043e\u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0435\u043d\u0430 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u044c\u0431\u0438 \u0437 \u0441\u0443\u0447\u0430\u0441\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0434\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043a\u043e\u0431\u0456\u0439\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0440\u044f\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0430\u043c\u0438, \u0437\u043e\u043a\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0430 \u043a\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0449\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0447\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0456\u043d\u043d\u044f. \u041e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0441\u043d\u043e \u043a\u043e\u043c\u043f\u0430\u043d\u0456\u044f \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044f \u0437 \u041f\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u0433\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043f\u0440\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0440\u0435\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0449\u0443\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0432\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0442\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0442\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u0442\u043b\u0456 \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0431\u0445\u0456\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456 \u0432\u0456\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043b\u044e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438 \u0431\u043e\u0454\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0456\u0432. \u041a\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u043a\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0435: Lockheed Martin \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207433346,"featured_media":29988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_description":"Lockheed Martin \u0432\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0435 \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0434\u0435\u0442\u0430\u043b\u0456 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0457 \u0440\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0442\u0438 AIM-260 JATM \u0434\u043b\u044f F-22 \u0456 F-35 \u0442\u0430 \u0434\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044f \u0437\u0456 \u0421\u0428\u0410 \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0437\u0431\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0432\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0442\u0432\u0430.","rank_math_title":"Lockheed Martin \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0441\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0435\u0442\u043d\u0443 \u0440\u0430\u043a\u0435\u0442\u0443 AIM-260","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Lockheed Martin","td_subtitle":"","subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[805619],"tags":[805624],"class_list":["post-29987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","tag-805624"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207433346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29987"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29990,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29987\/revisions\/29990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}