According to information published by the AirPower 2.0 X account on March 7, 2025, relaying a message from the U.S. Navy’s VX-31 Dust Devils, the squadron successfully conducted live-fire tests of the new AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) air-to-air missile on February 5, 2025. Based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, VX-31 is integral to the Navy’s test and evaluation activities, supporting the development of advanced weaponry and technologies that enhance operational capabilities.
The U.S. Navy’s VX-31 Dust Devils squadron operates a diverse range of aircraft, including F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, F/A-18D Hornets, AV-8B+ Harriers, and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters. These platforms support a variety of missions, with the AIM-260A test marking a crucial step forward in improving the Navy’s long-range strike capabilities.
Although the specifics of which aircraft participated in the live-fire tests were not disclosed, the AIM-260A’s development and testing are part of the broader Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) program, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Navy and Air Force. This missile, which has been under active testing for years, is designed to address the growing threats posed by increasingly advanced adversary aircraft and to replace older systems like the AIM-120 AMRAAM. The testing conducted by VX-31 is a significant milestone in the missile’s evolution, further refining its long-range performance and advanced capabilities to counter emerging threats.
The AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) represents a massive leap forward in missile technology for the U.S. military. Not merely an evolution of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the AIM-260A is a new capability designed to maintain U.S. air superiority over increasingly sophisticated adversaries. With near-peer competitors like Russia and China rapidly advancing their own missile and aircraft technologies, the AIM-260A was developed to meet these new challenges. The missile’s key innovations are tailored to ensure that U.S. forces can maintain dominance in air combat, even as adversaries deploy next-generation stealth fighters and advanced air defense systems.