US Navy to procure AIM-260 JATM starting FY 2026

The U.S. Navy will begin officially procuring the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) in Fiscal Year 2026, marking a key transition to next-generation air-to-air weaponry. This is the first time the missile appears as a dedicated budget line, with nearly $309 million allocated for its acquisition.
Following extensive live-fire testing with Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-31, the missile has proven its effectiveness. In early 2025, the Navy publicly released a rendering of the JATM, which experts confirmed as accurate.
The introduction of the JATM coincides with a sharp reduction in AIM-120 AMRAAM procurement—just 51 missiles funded for FY2026, down from 181 the previous year. Despite this, the Navy still reports critically low AMRAAM stockpiles.
JATM is expected to offer superior range and performance compared to the AIM-120D, especially when paired with the AIM-174B. Initial deployment is likely with Carrier Air Wings 1 and 5 aboard the USS Carl Vinson and USS George Washington, key components of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. With both the Air Force and Navy moving toward full adoption, the AIM-260A is poised to become the U.S. military’s primary long-range air combat missile.