The new BVRAAM of the US to succeed the AIM-120 AMRAAM line, Lockheed Martin's [NYSE-LMT] AIM-260 JATM, has been spotted under the fuselage pylon of an F/A-18F fighter of the US Navy.
A photo of a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter carrying the AIM-260 JATM BVRAAM was taken by Jonathan Tweedy at Eglin Air Force Base, marking the first public appearance of the missile as reported by The Aviationist.
It is seen that the missile is about the same size as AIM-120 AMRAAM and identical to the rendering from NAVAIR.
AIM-260 JATM is being developed as a successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM BVRAAM with new propulsion and guidance technologies, and is planned to provide a significant increase in range.
The missile adopts a single fin layout where the mid-body fixed fins are not present, which is likely to improve the aerodynamics alongside a new body form.
On the other hand, the previous statements from US officials indicate the use of a rocket motor with two or more pulses to provide extra push at the terminal stage.
The subject of guidance remains unclear, but an active RF seeker is sure to be present, presumably supported by GPS-reinforced navigation like AIM-120D.
AIM-260, alongside the larger AIM-174B also carried by F/A-18E/F, is understood to partially be a response to China's recent air-to-air missile developments like PL-15 (Used by Pakistan to score long-range kills against Indian fighters) and PL-17 to keep an edge as AIM-120 is reaching its limits due to design constraints.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
