Canberra is moving to acquire the US-made AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile for the Royal Australian Air Force, with the planned purchase valued at almost A$736 million. The deal would make Australia the first overseas operator of the new air-to-air missile. The weapon is designed for long-range, beyond-visual-range engagements and will first be integrated with Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets. Later integration is planned for the F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler. The procurement follows US approval of a potential foreign military sale worth more than $3 billion, covering up to 450 missiles, integration test equipment, guided test units, spare parts and related systems. Deliveries are expected from 2033. The AIM-260 is intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM as a more advanced air-to-air weapon. Because the programme remains classified in many areas, its exact performance is not publicly known. Analysts nevertheless expect a range greater than the approximately 160-kilometre figure associated with the earlier missile. Australia’s purchase would strengthen its long-range air-combat capability.
