U.S. air combat capabilities, new photos taken at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, suggest the first public sighting of America’s next-generation air-to-air missile: the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). The photographs, captured by renowned aviation photographer Colin Clark, show a CRJ700 aircraft operated by Northrop Grumman with what appears to be the forward section of the highly secretive AIM-260 missile attached to its nose.
The aircraft in question, tail number N806X, is registered to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp and is one of three CRJ700s used as airborne testbeds. Previously configured with fighter aircraft radomes—most recently that of the F-35—N806X now sports a missile-like nosecone bearing a strong resemblance to known renderings of the AIM-260. If this is indeed the JATM, it marks the first time a physical component of the missile has been publicly observed, moving speculation into the realm of visual confirmation.
While Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the AIM-260, Northrop Grumman’s involvement could either be as a subcontractor responsible for specific components, or simply as a provider of flight test services using its modified aircraft. The presence of such hardware at Nellis, a base known for cutting-edge flight test operations and frequently observed by military aviation enthusiasts, may signal a shift from clandestine testing to a more open phase of development.
Development of the AIM-260 began in earnest around 2017, prompted by the increasing sophistication of air-to-air missiles developed by potential adversaries, especially China. The Chinese PL-15, revealed in 2016, served as a wake-up call to U.S. defense planners. Its active radar homing guidance and extended range presented a credible threat to American air superiority. The JATM is designed to surpass it.
Compared to its predecessor, the AIM-120 AMRAAM—currently the mainstay air-to-air missile for U.S. and allied air forces—the AIM-260 is expected to feature a vastly improved rocket motor, enabling speeds up to Mach 5 and a range exceeding 200 kilometers. By contrast, the latest AIM-120D-3 variant reportedly maxes out at about 160 kilometers. These advancements could offer American pilots a critical edge in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat.
Notably, the AIM-120 won’t be made obsolete. It will continue to evolve in parallel with the JATM and serve alongside it. Given the projected cost and complexity of the AIM-260, it’s anticipated that allied nations will favor upgraded AMRAAM models due to their affordability and existing logistical familiarity.
Until now, representations of the AIM-260 have been restricted to low-detail renderings or mentions in classified documents. The most concrete look came earlier this year, in February 2025, when the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) included a JATM render in a public product overview for PMA-259, the Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office. Though initially dismissed as a notional concept, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to The War Zone that the image depicted the real missile design.
The render revealed a fuselage similar in size and shape to the AIM-120, an intentional design choice that simplifies integration on existing platforms. Absent were the AIM-120’s mid-body control surfaces. Instead, the JATM features four rear-mounted, trapezoidal control fins. A prominent and extended rocket motor section, evident by brown markings on the rendering, points to its long-range capabilities. The presence of conformal antennas suggests a two-way datalink, enabling mid-course updates and in-flight retargeting.
The shape of the nose spotted on the CRJ700 aligns well with this render. The curvature, dimensions, and fin attachment points observed in Clark’s photos bolster the theory that this is indeed the front section of the AIM-260.
Documentation reveals that testing of the AIM-260 began as early as 2020. Records indicate that QF-16 drones were used as targets in these early trials. Additionally, a since-deleted Facebook post from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-31 indicated live-fire tests occurred between July and August 2024, involving two aircraft and 80 personnel over eight sorties and 26.3 flight hours. The post confirmed the Navy’s direct participation in these tests.
Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall previously stated that the JATM was expected to enter production by 2023. While no official confirmation has been provided regarding production milestones, the appearance of what may be missile components in public implies that this transition may have occurred, or is imminent.
The JATM is not merely a new weapon but a linchpin in the Pentagon’s evolving air combat doctrine. It is intended for integration across a wide array of platforms. Manned aircraft like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II will be primary carriers, but equally significant is its expected use on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). These unmanned platforms will fly alongside crewed fighters, carrying additional sensors and munitions into contested airspace.
The missile’s compact size, similar to the AIM-120, ensures compatibility with the internal weapons bays of stealth aircraft, preserving low observability. This is crucial in a future combat environment increasingly shaped by radar-denied zones and long-range enemy interceptors.
The urgency of this program has geopolitical roots. China’s PL-15 and its longer-range cousin, the PL-17, represent direct challenges to U.S. aerial dominance in the Pacific theater. Without a credible answer, American assets risk being outranged before they can respond. The JATM is designed to reverse this equation, reasserting range superiority and ensuring that U.S. fighters can engage first, from farther away.
That a testbed featuring JATM hardware was spotted at Nellis, rather than a remote and tightly controlled site like Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, is telling. It may indicate that the program is entering a new phase of transparency, or at least reduced sensitivity. It could also suggest a ramp-up in operational testing that requires more diverse test environments and aircraft.
This shift aligns with past patterns. Once the F-22 Raptor began appearing at public airshows after years of secrecy, it marked a milestone in its transition from test platform to frontline asset. The AIM-260 may be following a similar trajectory.
Current projections suggest that production of the AIM-260 will outpace that of the AIM-120 by 2026. Whether this timeline remains intact is unclear, but growing photographic and anecdotal evidence implies progress. It is reasonable to assume that a substantial inventory of JATM missiles has already been manufactured and is now undergoing final testing and integration.
The public’s first full view of a complete AIM-260 mounted on an operational aircraft may not be far off. When that day comes, it will mark a critical step in a program that began in the shadows and is now emerging into the light, poised to redefine air combat.
