A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) has been spotted carrying both the AIM-174B and AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California.
This marks the first known publicly documented instance of the two advanced air-to-air missiles being carried simultaneously by the same aircraft.
The Super Hornet was photographed on October 14 by aviation photographer . The aircraft was also equipped with an IRST21 infrared search-and-track pod mounted on its centerline station, adding a passive infrared sensing capability to its configuration.
The AIM-174B and AIM-260A represent two critical components of the U.S. military’s effort to modernize its air-to-air missile arsenal. Although both are designed to strengthen American air-combat capabilities, they serve complementary roles, addressing different engagement requirements and reflecting the U.S. Navy’s evolving approach to countering increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.
Source: Defense Updates
