Overview
- A framework agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin was announced on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, to speed up production planning for the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
- The agreement is not a purchase contract and does not set production rates, prices, or delivery dates, but it is intended to create a demand signal for suppliers.
- Lockheed has pledged to invest company funds to expand manufacturing capacity so production lines can ramp if and when Congress authorizes a multiyear procurement.
- Air Force test officials said testing of the classified AIM-260 is ongoing and being accelerated, though operational timelines and specific performance details remain restricted for security reasons.
- Australia has committed roughly $520 million to buy AIM-260s as the first export customer, a move that could deepen allied interoperability and help spread production costs if U.S. congressional funding follows.