Australia is set to become the first nation outside the US to operate the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), following a A$736m ($518m) investment.
The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin, the nation’s principal international air combat exercise on 6 August 2026.
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Under the acquisition plan, the AIM-260 JATM will be sourced via the US Government’s foreign military sales programme.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will first equip the missile onto its F/A-18F Super Hornets, before integrating it with the F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler aircraft.
The Australian Department of Defence stated that the missile system is expected to provide Air Force platforms with a “credible deterrent” against airborne targets, complementing existing air-to-air missile capabilities and other surface-based missile systems across the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
In addition, the move is anticipated to further enhance Australia’s interoperability with the United States.
The government described the move as an important step towards creating a layered air and missile defence architecture, as outlined in both the 2026 National Defence Strategy and the Integrated Investment Program.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said: “JATM missiles are some of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons in the world, and Australia will be the first country to operate them outside the US.
“This is made possible thanks to the Albanese Government’s record investment in Defence, including up to $36 billion over the next decade for Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance.”
This acquisition builds on prior defence investments by the Albanese administration, which has prioritised the development of medium-range air defences and advanced aerial strike systems to address the country’s evolving security environment.
According to GlobalData’s Australia Defense Market Data (2026-2035) report, Australia allocated $47.9bn to its defence budget in 2026.
The report noted that defence expenditure has seen a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% between 2022 and 2026, driven in part by increased spending on acquisition and research, development, test, and evaluation programmes.
