The NG testbed, previously fitted with fighter aircraft nose radomes, was photographed showing what appears to be a forward section of the new AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
Captured by aviation photographer Colin Clark at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the images show the CRJ700 aircraft outfitted with a missile nose where it has previously, and recently,
carried an F-35 radome
. The aircraft, N806X, is registered to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp, and is one of three CRJ700s in their service.
The nose bears a striking resemblance to previous renderings of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). If confirmed, this would be the first public sighting of the new air-to-air missile, or at least part of it.
Although the prime contractor for the AIM-260 is Lockheed Martin, it is possible that Northrop Grumman is involved in the program as the manufacturer of some internal components. Alternatively, Northrop Grumman’s testbed aircraft may simply have been contracted as a third party to provide flight test services.
The AIM-260 has been under development to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM since 2017, although we had yet to see any physical representation of the missile other than
low-detail renderings
. It has been confirmed that
flight testing
of the missile is underway, and likely has been for some time.
Intended to serve as the primary long-range air-to-air weapon of both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy in the coming years, the AIM-260 is seen as
America’s counter
to increasingly advanced missile technologies under development by the People’s Republic of China. Compared to the AIM-120 AMRAAM it is intended to replace, the AIM-260 will feature a more capable rocket motor providing speeds up to Mach 5 and a range of over 200 kilometers.
The current AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM variant is said to offer around 160 kilometers of range. The AMRAAM will
continue to be developed
, with new variants intended to complement, rather than compete with, the JATM. Additionally, it’s likely many overseas customers would opt for newer models of the AMRAAM which would be more economical to purchase and familiar to operate.
Since Nellis is a bustling base and favored among aviation enthusiasts, the daytime sighting of the test bed could indicate that we won’t have long to wait before witnessing complete demonstrations of these missiles being flown publicly on both USAF and US Navy combat jets.
veil of secrecy
It is gradually raised. The completed trials conducted until now have utilized locations such as Naval Air Station China Lake, situated far from curious observers and recording devices.
In addition to crewed tactical fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, the AIM-260 is anticipated to also integrate with the U.S. Air Force’s platforms.
impending uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
CCAs will work alongside piloted fighter jets, providing the ability to transport more weaponry into battle. Additionally, they offer a means of deploying assets into highly dangerous areas without exposing pilots to heightened peril.
Previous statements
have claimed
By 2026, AIM-260 production is expected to surpass AIM-120 production. Although it remains unclear if this target is still adhering to the original timeline, it seems probable that a considerable quantity of AIM-260 units has been manufactured and will soon be deployed.
Thanks to Colin Clark for permitting the usage of his images in this piece! You can discover more of his photography on X/Twitter.
@CCFOC1
.
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Northrop Grumman’s CRJ700 Test Aircraft Spotted with Updated Missile Nose
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