The development of new long-range air-to-air weaponry has been established as a priority for the United States Armed Forces. Military competition with the People’s Republic of China—which, in the event of escalation into conflict, would take place in the island environments of the Asia-Pacific region—necessitates an entirely new generation of extended-range missiles. Two programs, jointly carried out by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, have captured the attention of specialists. Specifically, the AIM-174B air-to-air missile (based on the SM-6 used on destroyers) and the AIM-260A, intended to equip the USAF’s F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. Regarding the latter, which remains highly classified, new details have emerged since the end of February.
First revealed in 2022 through conceptual designs, the AIM-260 is the new extended-range missile designed for the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor fighters. While few details are known, various specialists highlight that its projected capabilities and range—surpassing the current AIM-120 AMRAAM—position it as the U.S. response to the PL-17 missile deployed by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). However, since its development was confirmed, little information has been disclosed in conferences and official documents.
One of the most recent developments came from the publication of the portfolio of projects being carried out by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where both the AIM-174B and AIM-260A were listed in the official document.
However, the most significant update to date was the confirmation that, at the end of 2024, the U.S. Navy conducted tests with the training version of the AIM-260A, as well as one or more live-fire test launches. In a post made on VX-31’s official social media profile and reported by the specialized outlet The War Zone, as part of the annual awards and recognitions ceremony, it was stated:
“CDR Christopher Putre, Commanding Officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31), presented LCDR Orion Flurett with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on December 19, 2024, in China Lake, California.” Adding: “LCDR Flurett was recognized for his meritorious service while serving as Developmental Test-9 Detachment Officer In Charge, VX-31, from July to August 2024.”
However, the most significant aspect of this post, which was later edited, referred to the tests involving the new AIM-260A, stating: “LCDR Flurett demonstrated extraordinary leadership and foresight by planning, managing, and coordinating 78 personnel and two aircraft in support of the live-fire testing of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. In particular, his keen oversight and initiative were critical to obtaining approval from NAVAIR [Naval Air Systems Command], VX-31, CTWP, and Eglin Air Force Base leadership for the last-minute increase to Category C testing, resulting in the successful completion of eight sorties encompassing 26.3 mishap-free flight hours, directly contributing to future air wing capabilities.”
As of now, beyond this significant development, further details remain unknown regarding which platform may have been used for the testing and evaluation. Currently, VX-31 operates a diverse fleet of experimental combat aircraft, including F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F/A-18D Hornets, and AV-8B+ Harriers. Presumably, the test may have been conducted using one of its Super Hornets, mirroring what was observed months earlier with the AIM-174B, which was integrated onto one of the F/A-18s from the VX-9 “Vampires” test and evaluation squadron.
Finally, the development of both the AIM-174 and AIM-260 missiles is currently being carried out under a joint U.S. Navy and Air Force program focused on the experimentation, testing, and evaluation of an entirely new generation of long-range missiles. Known as the Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), the program was unveiled in 2019, initially targeting 2022 as the tentative entry date for the new missile, a milestone that, as seen, has yet to be reached.
*Cover photo used for illustration purposes.
