Lockheed Martin AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM)

Could the number/distribution of antennae also have something to do with jamming resistance and/or picking up datalink signals from sources other than just the firing aircraft? Given all the emphasis on "kill chains/webs", it seems like it's going to be relying on datalink signals for potentially a majority of its flight profile, so maintaining those datalinks (and being able to receive them from angles other than the rear aspect) may have zoomed up their design priorities list.
 
quellish said:
Yes, it has to talk to satellites.
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Are you fairly confident of that? I can see the advantage given the satellite architecture the U.S. is creating and the long range kill chains desired, but that seems like a really high end capability for an AAM. In the past that has been reserved for much larger subsonic cruise missiles.
 
Josh_TN said:
Are you fairly confident of that? I can see the advantage given the satellite architecture the U.S. is creating and the long range kill chains desired, but that seems like a really high end capability for an AAM. In the past that has been reserved for much larger subsonic cruise missiles.
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AMTI sats
 
Josh_TN said:
Are you fairly confident of that? I can see the advantage given the satellite architecture the U.S. is creating and the long range kill chains desired, but that seems like a really high end capability for an AAM. In the past that has been reserved for much larger subsonic cruise missiles.
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Yes. The weapon integrates with ABMS, etc.
 
There was a notice few months ago saying US is planning to build a 1000km+ *A2A* missile, if satellites can guide this kind of missile, this would be very possible
"just" would need a LOT of battery time and a MASSIVE loft
 
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Claudiovict said:
There was a notice few months ago saying US is planning to build a 1000km+ missile, if satellites can guide this kind of missile, this would be very possible
"just" would need a LOT of battery time and a MASSIVE loft
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Well technically tomahawk Blk 4 already would fit that general description, but presumably you specifically mean A2A and fast.
 
I would be surprised if HACM did not have an A2A mode against large slow aircraft, if not initially then in Incr2.

But there might be other projects as well. And AIM-260 might fill a very long range gap in and of itself.
 
Solidus said:
I wonder how long it will be before we know any more details, right now the guidance, propulsion and warhead are all a mystery.
The leading theories from this forum are that it has a guidance system composed of an AESA antenna in the nose with additional hexagonal seekers that double down as a fuze to increase the lethality of a small warhead that makes room for a longer solid rocket motor that is either pulsed or throttleable.
From the images we can see a nosecone that isn't rounded likely because doesn't house an antenna that needs space to move, unconventionally placed hexagonal antennas/seekers/fuzes, a red strake of which there might be more in the other side, a long motor judging by the markings and what is likely a protruding data link antenna at the rear end.
Also it seems it will be more expensive than the AMRAAM which justifies continued production of the latter.
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For a time AIM 260 will only be released to strong ally, as Australia (purchase made).
AMRAAM for all the others.
 
CastleBravo said:
Not just any strong ally either, but specifically a strong ally in the Pacific that is aligned against the PR
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Not really. If the UK had an aircraft that could launch they would be able to buy as many as they want (they don’t). The export has nothing to do with the Pacific.
 
I suspect the list of approved exports is probably limited to AUKUS, assuming F-35 eventually gets the integration. Japan might be an option. I doubt exports expand past that for a very long time.
 
Josh_TN said:
I suspect the list of approved exports is probably limited to AUKUS, assuming F-35 eventually gets the integration. Japan might be an option. I doubt exports expand past that for a very long time.
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Maybe a little bit more than AUKUS : the 5 eyes.
 
quellish said:
Not really. If the UK had an aircraft that could launch they would be able to buy as many as they want (they don’t). The export has nothing to do with the Pacific.
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The PRC is the only potential adversary that demands a missile like the AIM-260, hence the UK not needing it. Meteor and AIM-120 are sufficient for the UK's potential threats.
 
Josh_TN said:
NORAD maybe, New Zealand unlikely.
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Not sure they'll be integrating AIM-260 to P-8 Poseidon or C-130J.....

CastleBravo said:
The PRC is the only potential adversary that demands a missile like the AIM-260, hence the UK not needing it. Meteor and AIM-120 are sufficient for the UK's potential threats.
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UK clearly doesn't think so...as Meteor MLU cancelled and FASE/F-BVRAAM started....
 
I could still see the UK buying a 50/50 mix of the AIM-260 and the FASE/F-BVRAAM for the future GCAP/Tempest when that enters service and of course for the existing F-35 fleet.
 

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