US Reveals AIM-260 Missile Amid Global Race for Ultra Long-Range Air Combat Weapons; India Advances Astra Programme

The United States has taken a major step in next-generation aerial warfare with the unveiling of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), a new ultra long-range air-to-air missile designed to counter China’s growing missile capabilities.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the AIM-260 was recently photographed during live testing on a US Navy F/A-18F fighter aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base, drawing global attention to the intensifying race for beyond-visual-range combat dominance.

AIM-260 Designed To Counter China

The AIM-260 JATM was first publicly acknowledged in 2019, though reports suggest development may have started earlier.

The missile is expected to travel at speeds above Mach 5 and has an estimated range exceeding 200 kilometres, significantly improving upon the older AIM-120D AMRAAM missile currently used by the United States military.

The weapon has been specially designed for compatibility with advanced fighter platforms including the F-22 Raptor, F/A-18 Super Hornet and eventually the F-35 stealth fighter and future unmanned combat aircraft.

The development is widely seen as a direct response to China’s PL-15 and PL-17 long-range missile systems, which have expanded Beijing’s aerial combat reach in recent years.

India’s Astra Programme Gains Momentum

India is also rapidly advancing its indigenous air-to-air missile capabilities through the Astra missile programme led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The upcoming Astra Mk-2 missile is expected to achieve a range of nearly 200 kilometres and could enter service within the next one to two years. The Indian Air Force reportedly plans to induct hundreds of these missiles for deployment on the Sukhoi-30 and Tejas fighter fleets.

Meanwhile, DRDO is developing the more advanced Astra Mk-3, also known as Gandiva, which is expected to feature a range of around 350 kilometres using Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology similar to the European Meteor missile system.

China Already Fields Long-Range Missiles

China currently operates several advanced beyond-visual-range missile systems including the PL-15, PL-17 and PL-21.

According to defence assessments, the PL-15 has a range of around 180 kilometres, while the PL-17 and PL-21 are believed to reach nearly 400 kilometres.

India reportedly recovered intact PL-15 missile debris after Pakistani aircraft used them during Operation Sindoor, though the missiles failed to hit their intended targets.

India Moving Towards Self-Reliance

The rapid development of the Astra missile family highlights India’s push towards defence self-reliance and reduced dependence on imported missile systems from Russia and Western nations.

With the United States, China and India all developing ultra long-range air-to-air missiles, the future of aerial warfare is increasingly shifting towards longer engagement ranges, stealth integration and advanced indigenous missile technology.