The AGM-65 Maverick is a U.S. air-to-surface guided missile family for close air support, interdiction, and defense suppression from aircraft including the A-10, F-16, F-15E, AV-8, F/A-18, and P-3C. Air Force and Navy fact sheets describe electro-optical, imaging-infrared, and laser-guided seekers paired with either shaped-charge or heavyweight penetrating warheads. Official sources document large-scale Desert Storm employment, later Iraq and Afghanistan use, and AGM-65F loading on a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion during 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve.
U.S. Navy and Air Force fact sheets report that more than 5,000 AGM-65 Mavericks were launched during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, mainly by Air Force F-16s and A-10s and Marine Corps AV-8s, with armored targets a primary target set.
Role detailsThe U.S. Navy AGM-65 fact file states that all Maverick variants have been used during recent conflicts in Afghanistan, while the same file defines the missile's close-air-support, interdiction, anti-armor, air-defense, ship, transportation, and fuel-installation target roles.
Role detailsThe U.S. Navy AGM-65 fact file states that all Maverick variants have been used during recent conflicts in Iraq, while the same file defines the missile's close-air-support, interdiction, anti-armor, air-defense, ship, transportation, and fuel-installation target roles.
Role detailsU.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 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve; coalition A-10 reporting also identifies the Maverick among weapons carried for OIR close-air-support missions.
Role detailsA, B, H, and K lineage Mavericks use television or electro-optical guidance, with later upgrade paths improving older electro-optical missiles.
Supported by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets.
D, F, and G models use imaging-infrared seekers; the F is identified by the Navy as an infrared ship-tracking variant for P-3 aircraft.
Supported by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets.
The AGM-65E is the laser-guided Maverick variant, associated in official fact sheets with Marine Corps and Air Force use and AV-8/F/A-18 integration.
Supported by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets.
The 125-pound shaped-charge warhead is tied to anti-armor effects and listed for B, D, and H variants in the Air Force characteristics table.
Supported by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets.
The 300-pound heavyweight penetrator or penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead uses delayed fuzing against larger or harder targets.
Supported by U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fact sheets.
Maverick variants combine common rocket-motor architecture with different seeker and warhead packages.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| AGM-65A/B | Electro-optical television guidance | Air Force and Navy fact sheets describe the A and B lineage as electro-optical or television-guided Mavericks; the B model added magnification to help identify smaller or more distant targets. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet, AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile |
| AGM-65D/F/G | Imaging infrared guidance | The D, F, and G models use imaging-infrared guidance. The Navy identifies the AGM-65F as a ship-tracking infrared variant for Navy P-3 aircraft, while Air Force background describes the G model as optimized for larger targets with a heavyweight penetrator warhead. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet, AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile |
| AGM-65E | Laser-guided penetrator variant | The Air Force fact sheet identifies the E model as the laser-guided version with the heavyweight penetrator warhead; the Navy fact file lists AGM-65E use on AV-8 and F/A-18 aircraft. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet, AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile |
| AGM-65H/J/K | Electro-optical upgrade lineage | The Air Force fact sheet describes H and K as electro-optical upgrade or conversion paths, including K development from the G model by replacing infrared guidance with electro-optical television guidance. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet |
Most rows below document carriage or integration evidence from official fact sheets and manufacturer material; the FA-50PH and Black Hawk rows are separated as firing or test-firing evidence because those sources describe live firing rather than routine fleet carriage.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Strike fighter | Boeing's Advanced F-15 weapons inventory lists AGM-65 Maverick among the aircraft's external carriage options. Sources: Advanced F-15 Weapons Inventory |
 | Short takeoff and vertical landing attack aircraft | The AV-8B PDF fact file lists the AGM-65 Maverick among the Harrier's carried attack weapons. Sources: NHHC AV-8B PDF Fact File |
 | Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter | The Navy fact file says the AGM-65E laser-guided Maverick is used on F/A-18 aircraft. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile |
 | Attack aircraft | U.S. Air Force sources explicitly state that A-10 aircraft carry Mavericks, and that A-10s launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles in the 1990 Gulf War. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet |
 | Multirole fighter | The AGM-65 Maverick fact sheet identifies the F-16 as one of the aircraft that carries Mavericks. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet |
 | Strike fighter | The AGM-65 Maverick fact sheet identifies the F-15E as one of the aircraft that carries Mavericks. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet |
 | Carrier-based attack aircraft | The AGM-65 Maverick fact sheet describes the missile family as an air-to-surface guided weapon, and the Skyhawk ordnance page lists it among A-4 smart weapons. |
 | Wild Weasel fighter-bomber | The AGM-65 Maverick fact sheet describes the missile as a tactical air-to-surface weapon, and the F-4G fact sheet lists it in Wild Weasel armament. Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet, McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
 | Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft | Jane's lists RNZAF MB-339 aircraft as fitted for AGM-65 Maverick carriage. |
 | Light attack aircraft | MilitaryFactory identifies the Alpha Jet as a platform that carries AGM-65 Maverick missiles. Sources: Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet Advanced Trainer / Close-Support Aircraft |
 | Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter | NAVAIR lists Maverick missiles among the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's armament. Sources: F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (NAVAIR) |
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Supersonic light combat aircraft | PNA reports FA-50PHs were armed with AGM-65 Maverick missiles during the 2023 Balikatan live-fire exercise, and one FA-50PH fired its missile at the target vessel. Sources: Live-fire exercise shows PAF aircraft interoperability, firepower |
 | Armed utility helicopter | Sikorsky Archives says Army Nightstalkers test-fired a Maverick missile from a Black Hawk. |
The U.S. Air Force accepted the first AGM-65A Maverick in August 1972, establishing the family as an operational air-to-surface missile.
Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet
Official Air Force and Navy fact sheets report more than 5,000 AGM-65 Mavericks launched during Operation Desert Storm, with armor a major target set.
Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet, AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile
The U.S. Navy fact file states that all Maverick variants were used during recent conflicts in Afghanistan.
Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile
The U.S. Navy fact file states that all Maverick variants were used during recent conflicts in Iraq.
Sources: AGM-65 Maverick Guided Missile
DVIDS documented VP-46 sailors loading an AGM-65F Maverick onto a P-3C Orion in the U.S. 5th Fleet area while deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Sources: VP-46 Onloads Maverick Missile Onto P-3C Orion
