Air Force's Secrecy-Shrouded AIM-260 Missile Nears Production
Program Accelerated Amidst Global Tensions
Development of the cutting-edge missile has been kept under wraps since its initiation in 2017
In a move that signals a significant shift in the United States Air Force's aerial combat capabilities, the secretive AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is poised to enter production this year, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. The missile, a highly classified project, is designed to replace the Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), which has been a mainstay of the USAF's arsenal for decades.
Details of the AIM-260 have been kept tightly under wraps, but USAF officials have hinted that it will possess substantially greater range than the AMRAAM. This increased reach is seen as crucial for the USAF to counter the growing threat posed by advanced air-to-air missiles developed by potential adversaries.
The acceleration of the AIM-260 program underscores the USAF's growing concern about the global security landscape. Tensions with countries such as China and Russia have heightened, and the need for cutting-edge weaponry has become paramount. The AIM-260 is expected to play a key role in ensuring the USAF's dominance in aerial warfare.
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