AGM-65 Maverick anti-surface missile

Manufacturer:

Raytheon

Characteristics:

With a history dating back to 1968, the ubiquitous Maverick is a common fixture on American and allied strike aircraft and helicopters. The missile is powered by a TX-481 solid-propellant rocket motor. The precise speed of the missile, as well as its exact range, are classified. The missile comes in a plethora of variants:Early-model AGM-65A and B electro-optical (EO) television (TV)-guidance variants; AGM-65D, Navy AGM-65F, AGM-65G and AGM-65G2 imaging infrared (IIR) versions; advanced EO/charge-coupled device TV-guided AGM-65H/J/K variants; AGM-65E laser-guided types used by the Marine Corps. The G2 employs some software fixes that helped to correct a drift problem that plagued the original G version. The weight of each Maverick variant differs depending on the seeker/warhead combination.

Combat Use:

Perhaps the better question should be when Maverick wasnít used. The Maverick has been used in multiple conflicts, stretching back to American usage late in the Vietanam War and Israeli use in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Maverick usage has extended through Operations Desert Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. As of April 23, the Air Force had fired 796 Mavericks, 351 of which were of the improved G2 version. Britainís Royal Air Force is also a G2 operator.

Foreign Users:

Apart from the United States, 27 countries operate the Maverick in a number of different configurations. The roster of Maverick clients includes Britain.

Analysis:

The Maverick is an affordable and therefore popular weapon for air forces around the world. Its different seeker and warhead combinations make it both a readily available and highly durable asset for Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps strike crews.