AGM-65 Maverick

The AGM-65 Maverick is a U.S. air-to-surface guided missile used from aircraft such as the A-10, F-16, AV-8, F/A-18, and P-3C against armor, vehicles, ships, air-defense sites, and other tactical targets. Its modular seeker and warhead families gave coalition aircraft a smaller precision-strike option during Operation Inherent Resolve, including AGM-65F loading documented on a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion in 2018.

Operation Inherent ResolveU.S.-led coalition and partner forces

Conflict side: U.S.-led coalition and partner forces
Built by: Raytheon
Built in: United States

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, Munitions

Image source: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet

Profile

Type: Air-to-surface guided missile
Conflict side: U.S.-led coalition and partner forces
Origin: United States
Service note: Entered U.S. service in 1972 and remained in coalition inventories during Operation Inherent Resolve

NATO precision fires anti-tank close air support missile naval

Service History

In service: U.S. service from August 1972
Used by: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Coalition air forces
Wars: Operation Inherent Resolve

Production History

Designer: Hughes Aircraft Company
Designed: 1960s development; deployed August 1972
Built by: Raytheon
Built in: United States
Unit cost: About $180,000 per missile in the U.S. Navy fact file
Produced: 1970s-present, with multiple seeker and warhead variants
Number built: More than 70,000 reported in public references
Variants: AGM-65A/B electro-optical, AGM-65D/F/G imaging infrared, AGM-65E laser guided, AGM-65H/J/K charge-coupled-device seeker upgrades

Specifications

Primary function: Air-to-surface guided missile for armor, air-defense, ship, transportation, and fuel-installation targets
Guidance: Electro-optical, imaging infrared, or laser guidance depending on variant
Warhead: 125-pound shaped-charge or 300-pound penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead
Length: 98 inches
Diameter: 12 inches
Wingspan: 28 inches
Weight: 462 to 670 pounds depending on model
Range: 17 nautical miles
Propulsion: Solid-propellant rocket motor

Conflict Usage

Operation Inherent Resolve: Side: U.S.-led coalition and partner forcesRole: Air-launched precision strike munition for coalition aircraftprecision fires strike close air support
U.S. Navy VP-46 sailors loaded an AGM-65F Maverick onto a P-3C Orion in the U.S. 5th Fleet area on October 10, 2018, while the squadron was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; coalition A-10 reporting also identifies the Maverick among the weapons carried for OIR close-air-support missions.

AGM-65 Maverick Images

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, Munitions - view 1 — Source: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, Munitions - view 2 — Source: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, Munitions - view 3 — Source: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, Munitions - view 4 — Source: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet

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Sources

AGM-65 Maverick Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports AGM-65 Maverick mission, modular seeker and warhead background, aircraft carriage, launch-and-leave capability, and official U.S. Air Force image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 AGM-65 Maverick Guided MissilePublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports Raytheon contractor attribution, U.S. service users, dimensions, weight, range, guidance, warhead, unit-cost, and service-date specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 VP-46 Onloads Maverick Missile Onto P-3C OrionPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports Operation Inherent Resolve direct use: AGM-65F Maverick fielded by U.S. Navy VP-46 on a P-3C Orion while deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; also supports public-domain image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 U.S. A-10s, Tankers Fly Syria Missions 24/7 From IncirlikPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Supports Operation Inherent Resolve direct use context: AGM-65 Maverick fielded by U.S. A-10s conducting close-air-support missions over Syria during Operation Inherent Resolve. | Accessed: 2026-06-21