Lockheed Martin signed a framework agreement with the Department of Defense to rapidly scale production and delivery of the advanced AIM-260 JATM air-to-air missile. The cutting-edge weapon is designed to deter and destroy both current and future aerial threats, providing a significant asymmetric advantage to joint forces through increased range and high efficiency. The missile is fully compatible with key U.S. fifth-generation fighters, the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
As Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, noted, this agreement builds on years of collaboration and will deliver critical air dominance capabilities at the speed demanded by modern challenges. The document establishes a solid foundation for a future multiyear contract, currently awaiting congressional approval, which guarantees long-term orders and strengthens the defense industrial base. The program is implemented in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, supported by the company’s own investments to expand production capacity.
The project is already attracting the attention of international partners: Australia recently announced a massive investment of nearly $736 million to equip its air forces with JATM missiles, which will enhance interoperability and overall allied security. The agreement has become another practical outcome of the U.S. military’s large-scale procurement transformation strategy aimed at the rapid deployment of breakthrough technologies in line with the demands of the modern security environment.
