RAAF Super Hornet seen carrying inert AIM-260 missile at Gray Flag 2026

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet was photographed at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu in California carrying an inert AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile during the Gray Flag 2026 test event. The image was taken on Sept. 11, 2026, and released on Sept. 30.

The jet, assigned to No. 1 Squadron, flew with a mix of inert air-to-air weapons. The AIM-260 was mounted on weapon station 7, the cheek station on the outside of the air intake. A CATM-9X, the training version of the AIM-9X, was fitted to the right wingtip, and a CATM-120, the training version of the AIM-120 AMRAAM, was also part of the loadout.

The sighting followed Australia's announcement that it would be the first country outside the United States to operate the AIM-260. In August 2026, the Australian government said it was spending almost $736 million to acquire the missile through foreign military sales.

According to the government, the F/A-18F Super Hornet will be the first Australian platform to carry the weapon, with the F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler to follow. The government said the purchase would give Air Force platforms a credible means of deterring airborne threats, adding to existing air-to-air missiles and surface-based missile capabilities across the Australian Defence Force.

The photograph resembles an earlier sighting of the missile on a US Navy Super Hornet, where it also appeared on the same station.