Australia to buy sophisticated US air-to-air missiles

Australia becomes the first foreign operator of the AIM-260A, a classified US air-to-air missile intended to close the range gap opened by China's PL-15 and PL-17, with integration planned across the Super Hornet, F-35A and Growler fleets. The A$736 million first tranche likely buys fewer than 100 rounds — enough to establish the capability but not a war stock — so magazine depth remains the open question. Early release of a program still withheld from other partners also signals a level of US technology-sharing confidence that contrasts with friction elsewhere in the alliance.