The Pentagon’s Secret Missile Is Finally Coming Out of the Shadows: What to Know About the AIM-260 JATM

For years, the US military has kept one of its most important new weapons almost entirely under wraps. Last week, that started to change.

On September 17, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin announced a plan to speed up production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, better known as JATM. For a program that has lived mostly in classified briefings, that’s a big step into the open.

Here’s what the missile is, what the deal actually does, and why it matters.

What Is the AIM-260 JATM?

JATM is an air-to-air missile. Fighter jets use it to shoot down enemy aircraft, often from so far away that the target never comes into view. It’s the secretive weapon set to succeed the AMRAAM, the missile American fighter pilots have relied on since the early 1990s.

According to Lockheed Martin, the new weapon offers greater range and effectiveness than existing air-to-air weapons. It’s built to fit the stealth fighters that matter most. It’s designed for the F-22, the F-35 and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and it stays small enough to fit inside internal weapons bays.

That last point is more important than it sounds. Stealth jets have to carry weapons internally to stay hard to detect on radar, so a long-range missile that fits inside the jet is a real advantage.

Why Has It Been So Secret?

Development began in 2017, and the Pentagon has tightly controlled information about the classified program, which first became public in 2019.

Even Lockheed has had to stay quiet. Tim Cahill, who leads the company’s missiles business, admitted that the classified status meant JATM was “a story we haven’t been able to tell.”

What Did the New Deal Actually Do?

This is where a lot of headlines get it wrong. The agreement is not a purchase order.

It is neither a contract nor an order for missiles. Officials described it as a demand signal that gives Lockheed and its suppliers a reason to invest in capacity, workforce and production efficiencies. In simple terms, the Pentagon is telling industry: get ready, because we’re going to want a lot of these.

The framework lays the groundwork for a multiyear procurement contract, pending Congressional approval. Lockheed also says it will put its own money into expanding capacity before any orders arrive.

What we don’t know yet: the announcement left out the scale and timeline of the production ramp-up, as well as any dollar figure tied to the agreement.

Why Now? The China Factor

The short answer is deterrence. Bloomberg reported that the missile is seen as vital to deterring China.

In any potential conflict in the Pacific, distances are huge. Whoever can detect and hit the other side’s aircraft first, from the longest range, has a major edge. JATM is designed to give American pilots that first shot.

There’s also a broader worry about stockpiles. Defense analysts have been warning for months that the US doesn’t have enough advanced munitions for a major war. The JATM agreement is the latest in a string of framework deals the Pentagon has signed with industry this year to rapidly scale up weapons production.

Will Congress Actually Fund It?

That’s the big open question. Earlier deals offer a hint. Lockheed previously secured framework agreements for the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD interceptors, which later turned into contract actions worth $59 billion and $35 billion respectively.

But there’s a catch. Final, definitized contracts for the dozen or so framework deals have been hard to come by, since much of the Pentagon’s munitions spending depends on a $350 billion reconciliation request that Congress hasn’t passed.

For context, the Air Force and Navy first publicly requested JATM procurement funding in their FY2026 budget, asking for about $670.5 million for procurement and $647.8 million for further development.

America’s Allies Want It Too

The US won’t be the only user. In August, Australia confirmed an investment of roughly A$736 million to acquire the missile, becoming the first international customer. The Australian missiles are destined for the F/A-18F Super Hornet, F-35A and EA-18G Growler.

The Pentagon specifically pointed to foreign military sales as a reason to expand production, and more export deals are widely expected to follow.

The Bottom Line

The AIM-260 JATM is quietly becoming one of the most important weapons in America’s arsenal. Last week’s deal doesn’t put missiles on jets tomorrow, but it signals that the Pentagon is serious about building them in large numbers. The next thing to watch is whether Congress approves and funds a multiyear contract.

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