Lockheed Martin has signed a framework agreement with the US Department of War to accelerate production and delivery of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), according to the company. The agreement establishes the foundation for increased production of the air-to-air missile and is expected to support faster deliveries to the US armed forces and allied nations. JATM is being produced by Lockheed Martin in partnership with the US Air Force and US Navy. The missile is designed for air-dominance missions and is intended to provide greater range and effectiveness than existing air-to-air weapons. It is compatible with multiple Air Force and Navy aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
“This agreement builds on years of collaboration to deliver this critical air dominance capability to the warfighter,” said Tim Cahill, president, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We will deliver JATM at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders.”
Under the framework agreement, Lockheed Martin will make the investments required to increase JATM production capacity. The arrangement is also intended to establish long-term demand for the programme through a proposed multiyear procurement contract.
The multiyear procurement contract remains subject to Congressional approval. If approved, it would provide longer-term production visibility and support efforts to strengthen and expand the U.S. defence industrial base associated with the JATM programme.
Lockheed Martin said the agreement is also part of the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy, which seeks to change the way critical defence capabilities are acquired and delivered. The company said the agreement reflects ongoing cooperation between industry and the U.S. government to increase production and deliver defence systems at greater speed and scale.
International demand for the JATM is also developing. Australia announced in August 2026 an investment of nearly $736 million to equip the Royal Australian Air Force with the missile. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Australia’s air combat capabilities and interoperability with the United States and other allied forces.
The framework agreement is therefore expected to support both domestic production requirements and the broader supply chain for allied users of the system. Increased production is also intended to provide greater capacity for future procurement requirements.
Lockheed Martin is a global defence technology company developing systems across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. Its portfolio includes aircraft, missiles, air and missile defence systems, space systems and other defence technologies. The company serves the United States and allied customers and operates research, manufacturing and engineering facilities in multiple locations.
