Pentagon and Lockheed Martin sign framework agreement to expand AIM-260 JATM production
The U.S. Department of War and Lockheed Martin have signed a framework agreement to scale production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, the long-range air-to-air weapon intended to counter China's PL-15. The agreement lays groundwork for a future multiyear procurement, though no dollar amount, quantity, or timeline was disclosed. Testing of the secretive missile—originally slated for service years ago—is reportedly accelerating.
Why it matters: The AIM-260 is the Pentagon's answer to being outranged by PL-15; a framework deal without numbers suggests industrial base readiness is still catching up to operational urgency.
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