AGM-65 Maverick
With a first version that was operational in 1972, air-to-surface missiles of the AGM-65 Maverick family have a wide range of guidance and warhead options. They are of fairly short range: 17+ miles (12 nautical miles/27 km)[1][2] The 125 pound shaped charge warheads have less than half the explosive of the 300 pound penetrators, but the explosive force is directional.
Of the three forms of guidance, electro-optical television, passive thermal, and laser guided, each has an area where it is best. Experience proved that television is better at discriminating a target under hot desert sun, while passive thermal would work better against the same vehicle at night. It is expected that the pilot will do a "man-in-the-loop lock-on" (i.e., looking through the weapon's own seeker) before releasing the missile, which can hit within 1 meter.
Mavericks have been certified on over 25 aircraft of various countries. Current U.S. aircraft that use versions include the AH-1 Cobra, A-10, AV-8 Harrier II, F-4 Phantom II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Hornet, F-18 Super Hornet and P-3 Orion.
Guidance and warhead combinations
| Version | Guidance | Major U.S. user & warhead |
|---|---|---|
| AGM-65 A/B | electro-optical television | Air Force, shaped charge |
| AGM-65 C | laser designator | Marine Corps, shaped charge |
| AGM-65 D | passive thermal imager | Marine Corps, shaped charge |
| AGM-65 E | laser designator | Marine Corps, penetrator |
| AGM-65 F | passive thermal imager, anti-shipping | Navy, penetrating |
| AGM-65 G | passive thermal imager | Air Force, penetrating |
| AGM-65 H | infrared anti-shipping | Navy, penetrating |
| AGM-65 K | improved electro-optical | Air Force, penetrating |
General characteristics
- Primary Function: Air-to-surface guided missile; attack and destroy armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation, and fuel installations[3]
- Contractor: Raytheon Co.
- Date Deployed: August 1972.
- Unit Cost: $180,000.
- Propulsion: Thiokol SR 109-TC-1 solid-propellant rocket motor; Thiokol SR 114-TC-1 (or Aerojet SR 115-AJ-1) solid-propellant rocket motor
- Length: 98 inches
- Diameter: 12 inches
- Wingspan: 28 inches
- Weight: 462 – 670 pounds, depending upon model
- Speed: Supersonic
- Range: 17 nautical miles
References
- ↑ AGM-65 Maverick, Globalsecurity.org
- ↑ AGM-65 Maverick, Federation of American Scientists
- ↑ AGM-65 Maverick guided missile, U.S. Navy