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AGM-65 Maverick

Raytheon · Air-to-Surface · USA · Cold War (1970–1991)

AGM-65 Maverick — Air-to-Surface
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The AGM-65 Maverick is a U.S. air-to-surface missile designed to attack tanks, fortifications, and ships from a range of about 13 miles (22 km). Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon Missiles & Defense / RTX) developed the Maverick in the late 1960s; the missile entered U.S. Air Force service in 1972 and is still in production and combat use in 2026 — a 54-year service life that makes it one of the longest-serving precision-guided munitions in U.S. history. About 70,000 Mavericks have been produced across all variants for the USAF, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and 30+ international customers.

The Maverick is a fire-and-forget weapon. The launching aircraft (an A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16, F-15E, AV-8B Harrier II, F/A-18, etc.) acquires the target via the missile's nose seeker, the pilot designates and launches, and the missile flies autonomously to impact. Different variants use different seekers — TV-imaging (early A/B), imaging infrared (D/G), laser (E), and millimetre-wave radar — letting the same airframe handle daylight, night, and adverse-weather targeting. Warhead options: 125 lb shaped-charge (anti-tank) or 300 lb blast-fragmentation (anti-fortification, anti-ship).

The Maverick's combat record covers Vietnam (limited late-war use), the 1991 Gulf War (5,255 launches, ~85% target-hit rate against Iraqi armour), the 1999 Kosovo air campaign, the 2003 Iraq invasion (about 900 launches), and the post-2014 anti-ISIS campaign (200+ launches). The 1991 Gulf War made the Maverick the visible face of precision-guided air-to-ground attack — A-10s and F-16s firing Mavericks at Iraqi tanks formed much of the iconic gun-camera footage of the war.

As of 2026 the AGM-65 line has reached its likely end-state. The current production variant is the AGM-65L Block 6, with imaging infrared seeker and an extended-range motor. Replacement options under study include the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) for longer-range targets and the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II / GBU-53/B) for shorter-range work. The Maverick will likely remain in production through about 2030 and in inventory through 2040.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The AGM-65 Maverick is an American air-to-ground missile. Fighter and attack pilots use Mavericks to destroy enemy tanks, ships, bunkers, and trucks. The Maverick has been America's main precision-strike weapon for over 50 years — since 1972.

A Maverick is about 8 feet long and weighs around 460 pounds. It carries a 125-pound explosive — enough to destroy any tank ever built. The pilot can launch the Maverick from a safe distance (up to 14 miles away) and the missile finds its way to the target on its own.

The Maverick comes in different versions. Some versions have a TV camera in the nose — the pilot "sees" the target on a screen in the cockpit, locks the camera on, and fires. Other versions use infrared (heat-seeking) for hot targets like running tanks. The newest versions add laser guidance — a soldier on the ground can shine a laser on the target, and the Maverick follows the reflection.

About 70,000 Mavericks have been built since 1972. They've been used in every American war since the Gulf War (1991). About 30 countries use Mavericks today. The F-16, F/A-18, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and AC-130 gunship can all carry Mavericks — and Ukrainian forces have used American-supplied Mavericks against Russian tanks since 2022.

Fun Facts

  • About 70,000 AGM-65 Mavericks have been built since 1972 — making it one of the most-built guided weapons ever.
  • Each Maverick can destroy any tank ever built — its 125-pound explosive is that powerful.
  • Different Maverick versions use TV cameras, infrared seekers, or laser guidance to find targets.
  • The Maverick is about 8 feet long — about as long as a tall person plus a basketball.
  • 30 countries use Mavericks today, including Ukraine — Ukrainian forces have used them against Russian tanks since 2022.
  • The A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog can carry up to 6 Mavericks at once.
  • Mavericks have been used in every American war since the 1991 Gulf War.

Kids’ Questions

How does a pilot aim with a TV-camera missile?

The pilot has a small TV screen in the cockpit that shows what the missile's nose camera is seeing. Before firing, the pilot uses a small joystick to move a little crosshair on the screen onto the target — a tank, a building, a truck. When the crosshair is on the target, the pilot presses a button to lock the camera, then launches the missile. From then on, the Maverick's camera "sees" the target shape and keeps flying toward it, even if the target moves a little. This lets pilots hit targets very accurately even at miles distance.

Why use a missile instead of a regular bomb?

Regular bombs just fall — they hit wherever gravity and wind take them. To hit a specific target, the pilot has to fly the airplane directly over it, which means flying low and slow into enemy gunfire. Missiles guide themselves to a target. The pilot can stay safe (up to 14 miles away) and let the missile do the dangerous flying. Missiles cost more than bombs (about $80,000 vs $5,000 for a basic bomb), but for important targets the extra cost is worth it — fewer bombs needed, more accurate hits, less danger to the pilot.

Variants

AGM-65A/B (TV-imaging)
Original 1972 production variants. Television-imaging seeker, daytime use only. About 30,000 produced. Still in some inventories but not produced new since the 1980s.
AGM-65D/G (Imaging Infrared)
Night- and adverse-weather IR seeker. About 10,000 produced. The G variant has the larger 300-lb blast-fragmentation warhead for anti-ship and fortification use.
AGM-65E (Laser-guided)
Laser-guided variant for use with ground or aircraft target designators. About 5,000 produced primarily for U.S. Marine Corps Harrier and F/A-18 use.
AGM-65L (current production)
Imaging infrared seeker + extended-range motor. Block 6 is the current production standard as of 2026. Roughly 5,000 produced; in continuous low-rate production.

Notable Operators

United States Air Force
Largest single customer. The Maverick is the primary precision air-to-ground weapon on the A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F-15E Strike Eagle. Combat-tested every U.S. campaign since Vietnam.
United States Navy / Marine Corps
Operates AGM-65E (laser) and AGM-65G (IR) variants from F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harrier II. Used for ship-attack, anti-armour, and close air support.
International export (30+ countries)
Maverick exported to UK, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Sweden, and others. Combat-tested by the IDF/AF, Saudi RSAF, and others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AGM-65 Maverick used for?

Precision air-to-surface attack against tanks, vehicles, fortifications, ships, and other point targets. Maximum effective range about 13 miles (22 km). The fire-and-forget guidance lets the launching aircraft turn away after launch, reducing exposure to ground-based air defences.

What aircraft fire the Maverick?

Most U.S. combataircraft can carry the Maverick: A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II, plus older types (F-4 Phantom, F-111, A-7 Corsair II) historically. International users adapt the missile to F-5 Tiger, Tornado, and other combatfighters.

How accurate is the Maverick?

Circular error probable (CEP) of about 1 m for IR-imaging variants and laser-guided variants — essentially direct-hit accuracy at typical engagement ranges. The 1991 Gulf War combat record was about 85% target-hit rate against Iraqi armour, which is exceptional for an air-to-ground precision-guided munition.

How many Mavericks have been used in combat?

Roughly 7,000-7,500 launched in U.S. combat operations since 1972, with the bulk in the 1991 Gulf War (5,255 launches). Major campaigns: Vietnam (limited late-war use), Operation Desert Storm 1991, Operation Allied Force 1999, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003, anti-ISIS campaign 2014-2020s.

Is the Maverick still in production?

Yes, in low-rate production by Raytheon (RTX) as the AGM-65L Block 6. Most production today is for international customers and U.S. inventory replenishment. The Maverick is expected to remain in production through about 2030 and in inventory through 2040.

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