In the shadow of China’s rapid military build-up, the United States is working on a weapon meant to restore the balance in the air: the AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile). Officially, little is known about this missile, but what is clear is that the AIM-260 was developed as a direct answer to the Chinese long-range air-to-air missiles that have drastically changed the balance in air combat in recent years. It is a weapon that must not only replace the well-known AIM-120 AMRAAM, but above all secure American superiority at long range. Australia has indicated that it will order 450 missiles in advance.
For decades the AMRAAM was the standard missile of the United States and NATO. It was used by virtually every Western fighter aircraft and proved its worth in several conflicts. But war changes, and especially in the Indo-Pacific region the rules are shifting fast. China has been investing massively in missile technology for years, with the aim of being able to hit opponents at ever greater distances. As a result, the classic idea of air combat – meeting each other at relatively short range – has become less and less realistic.
The real wake-up call for the United States came with the operational deployment of the Chinese PL-15. This missile has a modern AESA radar seeker, a powerful motor and a range estimated to be clearly greater than that of the newest AMRAAM variants. For the first time a scenario arose in which a Chinese fighter could possibly fire at American aircraft first, even before they come within their own effective firing range. That is of enormous strategic significance. Whoever can fire first has often already won in modern air combat. Whether China has better radars than America remains to be seen. But they are making an attempt to make things difficult for America, and America takes it seriously.
Photo: This is a slide shared by the military; the AIM-260A is among them and will also look like this. The Netherlands also appears in the portfolio, which is interesting too.
It did not stop there. In addition to the PL-15, information also emerged about the much heavier and presumably even longer-reaching PL-21. This missile is mainly intended to take out large support aircraft – such as tankers, radar aircraft and command platforms – at extreme ranges. It is precisely those support aircraft that form the nervous system of Western air operations. Without tankers and AWACS, fighters lose a large part of their range, warning time and coordination. With this new generation of missiles, China is therefore targeting not only fighters, but the entire ecosystem of the air force.
It is in this context that the AIM-260 was born. The programme started around 2017, but only really became a priority when it became clear how far China actually was with its missiles. Unlike the AMRAAM, which was gradually developed further and further, the AIM-260 was designed from the drawing board as a weapon for a new era of long-range warfare. The missile must reach considerably further than its predecessor, be faster in the final phase of flight and be more resistant to electronic countermeasures. The AIM-174B was developed for this. (See the following article)
The Pentagon remains stubbornly silent about the exact performance of the AIM-260 JATM. Even rough range figures are officially secret. Yet test areas, budget documents and statements by defence officials suggest that the AIM-260 may approach double the range of the AMRAAM. That would mean that engagements increasingly take place at distances where pilots no longer even “see” their opponent, but only as a digital track on their sensor screens.
Also of great importance is that the AIM-260 fits in the internal weapons bays of stealth fighters. Both the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II must be able to carry the missile concealed without losing their stealth. This allows the United States to retain the advantage of stealth, even with very long-range shots. At the same time, the missile will also be made suitable for non-stealth platforms such as the F-15EX, creating maximum flexibility.
(Photo: Lockheed Martin. The AIM-260 will have to be carried internally.
Why this development is so crucial has everything to do with the changing nature of air operations. In a conflict around Taiwan, the South China Sea or even further into the Pacific, American aircraft would face a dense Chinese defensive belt of radar, long-range missiles and fighters. If China can fire there before the US, America loses not only the tactical initiative, but also the deterrence on which its regional strategy is based. The AIM-260 is therefore not just a new weapon, but an attempt to secure that initiative.
The use of such long-range missiles also has a strong psychological effect. Pilots know they are vulnerable at distances that were previously considered relatively safe. Support aircraft have to stay further back, reducing their effectiveness. The entire air force logistics shifts. With the AIM-260, the US wants to put part of that pressure back on the opponent: Chinese tankers and command aircraft would also no longer remain safely out of range in a future conflict.
When exactly the AIM-260 will become operational remains unclear. Test campaigns have been running for several years, and American budget plans point to a transition to series production in the second half of this decade. Still, the missile will probably first become available in limited numbers. The AMRAAM will therefore remain in service alongside the AIM-260 for years to come, especially for short and medium ranges. Around 2033 Australia will be able to receive the first batch of missiles. That shows these missiles are still in development.
The core, however, stands: the AIM-260 marks a new chapter in the international arms race in the air. Where the AMRAAM symbolised American dominance in the 1990s and 2000s, the JATM is being designed for a world in which that superiority can no longer be taken for granted. With the rapid technological progress of China in particular, the battle over who can see first, who can fire first and who can hit first has become more important than ever.
