The escalating military strength of China has begun to concern even the United States. The primary reason is the Dragon’s PL-15 missile. The result has led the US Air Force and Navy to uncover vulnerabilities in their security and to push the Trump administration for Lockheed Martin’s AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. They have requested an estimated 1 billion dollars (about Rs 8,300 crores) for this.
What is the $1 Billion Missile the US is Planning to Buy?
According to budget documents and a service statement, the U.S. military branches have requested nearly US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) for the 2026 fiscal year, beginning on October 1, to start production of the classified missile system, reported The Straits Times.
How will the AIM-260 Outperform China’s PL-15 Missile?
The U.S. Air Force, which is spearheading the development of AIM-260 or Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), has requested US$368 million for initial production; it’s also requesting US$300 million in a separate annual “Unfunded Priorities List,” the military services submit to congressional defence committees, the report mentioned. The U.S. Navy has requested an additional US$301 for the program.
Analysts at Melius Research pointed out in 2024 that the missile program could reach US$30 billion depending on the scale of production. The missile program could give Lockheed Martin a much-needed boost, which recently reported US$1.6 billion in charges in its second-quarter earnings, along with a potential US$4.6 billion tax accounting liability, reported Times Strait.
The U.S. Department of Defense report indicates that China is using not just the PL-15 missile, but its improved version, the PL-17, which is a lethal missile that can hit enemy targets reportedly at a distance up to 400 kilometers. It is claimed that when Pakistan used it against India, the U.S. was forced to wake up to the threat. The U.S. Air Force stated, “Our potential adversaries have witnessed our ability to provide air superiority, and US competitors have evolved in response.” “An air-to-air missile capable of defeating advanced threat systems is essential to maintaining US air superiority, ” the Air Force stated, according to The Times Strait.
Which US Fighter Jets Will Carry This Advanced Weapon?
The missile will be an improved edition of the existing AIM-120 AMRAAM, and is designed to fit in the internal weapons bays of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 stealth fighters, so that no opponent can tell from where the strike is coming. However, the Air Force stated it would also be integrated with F-16 and F-15 jets. It is reported that its range will be greater than both China’s PL-15 and Europe’s well-known Meteor missile. It will also be used on the F-16, F-15, and upcoming unmanned combat aircraft.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. Air Force, which is spearheading the development of AIM-260 or Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), has requested US$368 million for initial production
- The missile will be an improved edition of the existing AIM-120 AMRAAM.
- It is designed to fit in the internal weapons bays of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 stealth fighters.
- It will also be used on the F-16, F-15, and upcoming unmanned combat aircraft.
Experts suggest that if this missile turns out to be a success, it could become a US$30 billion program of its own. For Lockheed Martin, which relies on the F-35 project so heavily, that is life support. The U.S. AIM-260 is not simply a missile; it is a strategic reaction to the increased missile capabilities of China and Pakistan. The world is watching to see when this missile can be operational and if it can genuinely restore security to American skies.
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