AGM-65 Maverick

A US tactical air-to-surface missile family developed for precision attacks against armoured vehicles, fortified positions, ships and air-defense targets.

Overview

The AGM-65 Maverick is a short-range tactical air-to-surface missile family developed in the United States for close air support, battlefield interdiction and suppression of enemy air defenses. It entered service in the early 1970s and became one of the most widely produced Western precision-guided missiles, with more than 75,000 manufactured in multiple configurations for US and foreign operators. Its principal US launch platforms have included the A-10, F-15E, F-16 and F/A-18.

Maverick is a family rather than a single fixed configuration. Its modular architecture combines television, imaging-infrared or semi-active laser seekers with either a 57 kg shaped-charge warhead or a 136 kg penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead. Earlier variants emphasized fire-and-forget attacks against armoured vehicles, while later versions added night capability, improved image processing, heavier warheads, maritime targeting or laser guidance against moving targets.

The missile's longevity reflects the breadth of its aircraft integrations and the continuing utility of a relatively compact precision weapon. Its limitations are equally tied to its age: seeker performance depends on visibility and target contrast, effective range varies substantially with launch conditions, and newer multi-mode weapons offer greater flexibility against obscured or moving targets. The current US posture centers on upgrades and conversions of legacy rounds rather than large-scale procurement of additional missiles, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

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