Australia is allocating almost A$736 million, equivalent to about US$520.1 million, to acquire the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile for the Royal Australian Air Force. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the planned procurement during an exercise in Darwin, making Australia the first international operator expected to receive the US-developed air-to-air missile.
The weapon is intended to provide a long-range, beyond-visual-range capability. Once delivered, it will initially be integrated with Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet. The missile is also expected to be introduced later on the F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler aircraft.
The purchase follows Washington’s approval in April of a broader foreign military sale valued at more than US$3 billion. That arrangement covers the possible transfer of as many as 450 AIM-260 missiles, together with integration test equipment, guided test units, spare components and associated support.
Deliveries under the broader agreement are projected to begin in 2033. Much of the AIM-260’s technical information remains classified because the programme has been under development since 2017.
The missile is intended to succeed the AIM-120 AMRAAM and support Australia’s wider air and missile defence objectives. Analysts expect its range to exceed the approximately 160-kilometre range associated with its predecessor, although detailed performance information has not been publicly released.
Within the US military, the AIM-260 is planned for aircraft including the F-22 and Super Hornet and is expected to support the future F-47 sixth-generation fighter.
