AGM-65 Maverick
The AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground missile (AGM) designed for close air support. It is the most widely produced precision-guided missile in the Western world, and is effective against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation and fuel storage facilities.
| AGM-65 Maverick | |
|---|---|
| Type | Air-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 30 August 1972 – present |
| Used by | 30+ countries |
| Wars | Vietnam War Yom Kippur War Iran–Iraq War Persian Gulf War Kosovo War Iraq War First Libyan Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon Missile Systems Raytheon |
| Unit cost | US$17,000 to $110,000, depending on variant |
| No. built | 70,000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 210–304 kg (462–670 lb) |
| Length | 249 cm (8 ft 2 in) |
| Diameter | 30 cm (12 in) |
| Wingspan | 710 mm (2 ft 4 in) |
| Warhead |
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| Engine |
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| Propellant | Solid propellant |
Operational range | Greater than 22 km (12 nmi) |
| Maximum speed | 1,150 km/h (620 kn) |
Guidance system |
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Development began in 1966 at Hughes Aircraft Company as the first missile to use an electronic contrast seeker. It entered service with the United States Air Force in August 1972. Since then, it has been exported to more than 30 countries and is certified on 25 aircraft. The Maverick served during the Vietnam, Yom Kippur, Iran–Iraq, and Persian Gulf Wars, along with other smaller conflicts, destroying enemy forces and installations with varying degrees of success.
Since its introduction into service, numerous Maverick versions had been designed and produced using electro-optical, laser, and imaging infrared guidance systems. The AGM-65 has two types of warhead: one has a contact fuze in the nose, the other has a heavyweight warhead fitted with a delayed-action fuze, which penetrates the target with its kinetic energy before detonating. The missile is currently produced by Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
The Maverick shares the same configuration as Hughes' AIM-4 Falcon and AIM-54 Phoenix, and measures more than 2.4 m (8 ft) in length and 30 cm (12 in) in diameter.