AGM-65 Maverick

Development

The Maverick's development history began in 1965, when the United States Air Force (USAF) began a program to develop a replacement to the AGM-12 Bullpup. With a range of 16.3 km, the radio-guided Bullpup was introduced in 1959 and was considered a "silver bullet" by operators. However, the launch aircraft was required to fly straight towards the target during the missile's flight instead of performing evasive maneuvers, thus endangering itself. The USAF began a series of projects to replace Bullpup, both larger versions of Bullpup, models C and D, as well as a series of Bullpup adaptations offering fire-and-forget guidance. Among the latter were the AGM-83 Bulldog, AGM-79 Blue Eye and AGM-80 Viper.

From 1966 to 1968, Hughes Missile Systems Division and Rockwell competed for the contract to build an entirely new fire-and-forget missile with far greater range performance than any of the Bullpup versions. Each were allocated $3 million for preliminary design and engineering work of the Maverick in 1966. with the first guided test on 18 December successfully performing a direct hit on a M41 tank target at the Air Force Missile Development Center at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

In July 1971, the USAF and Hughes signed a $69.9 million contract for 2,000 missiles, As such, development of the AGM-65B "Scene Magnified" version began in 1975 before it was delivered during the late 1970s. When production of the AGM-65A/B was ended in 1978, more than 35,000 missiles had been built.

More versions of the Maverick appeared, among which was the laser-guided AGM-65C/E. Development of the AGM-65C started in 1978 by Rockwell, who built a number of development missiles for the USAF. Due to high cost, the version was not procured by the USAF, and instead entered service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as the AGM-65E.

Another major development was the AGM-65D, which employed an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker. By imaging on radiated heat, the IIR is all-weather operable as well as showing improved performance in acquiring and tracking the hot engines, such as in tanks and trucks, that were to be one of its major missions. The seekerhead mechanically scanned the scene over a nitrogen-cooled 4-by-4 pixel array using a series of mirrored facets machined into the inner surface of the ring-shaped main gyroscope. The five-year development period of the AGM-65D started in 1977 and ended with the first delivery to the USAF in October 1983. The version received initial operating capability in February 1986.

The AGM-65F is a hybrid Maverick combining the AGM-65D's IIR seeker with the warhead and propulsion components of the AGM-65E. Deployed by the United States Navy (USN), the AGM-65F is optimized for maritime strike roles. The first AGM-65F launch from the P-3C took place in 1989, and in 1994, the USN awarded Unisys a contract to integrate the version with the P-3C. Meanwhile, Hughes produced the AGM-65G, which essentially has the same guidance system as the D, with some software modifications that track larger targets.

In the mid-1990s to early 2000s, there were several ideas for enhancing the Maverick's potential. Among them was the stillborn plan to incorporate the Maverick millimeter wave active radar homing, which can determine the exact shape of a target. Another study called "Longhorn Project" The proposal was abandoned, but if the Maverick ER had entered production, it would have replaced the AGM-119B Penguin carried on the MH-60R.

The most modern versions of the Maverick are the AGM-65H/K, which were in production . The AGM-65H was developed by coupling the AGM-65B with a charge-coupled device (CCD) seeker optimized for desert operations and which has three times the range of the original TV-sensor; a parallel USN program aimed at rebuilding AGM-65Fs with newer CCD seekers resulted in the AGM-65J. The AGM-65K, meanwhile, was developed by replacing the AGM-65G's IR guidance system with an electro-optical television guidance system.

Design

The Maverick has a modular design, allowing for different combinations of the guidance package and warhead to be attached to the rocket motor to produce a different weapon. It has long-chord delta wings and a cylindrical body, reminiscent of the AIM-4 Falcon and the AIM-54 Phoenix.

Different models of the AGM-65 have used 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 latter is most effective against large, hard targets. The propulsion system for both types is a solid-fuel rocket motor behind the warhead.

The Maverick missile is unable to lock onto targets on its own; it has to be given input by the pilot or weapon systems officer after which it follows the path to the target autonomously. In most modern aircraft with MFDs, an A-10 Thunderbolt II for example, the video feed from the seeker head is relayed to a screen in the cockpit, where the pilot can check the locked target of the missile before launch. A crosshair on the heads-up display is shifted by the pilot to set the approximate target, where the missile will then automatically recognize and lock on to the target. Once the missile is launched, it requires no further assistance from the launch vehicle and tracks its target automatically. This fire-and-forget property is not shared by the E version that uses semi-active laser homing.

While the Maverick missile's seeker can be used as a way to locate and lock targets, external targeting pods are used more often. The seeker head follows the movements of the targeting pod and attempts to point at the same point on the ground. G-forces throughout flight, however, often cause misalignment in the seeker head, requiring pilots to boresight the missile seeker to the targeting pod prior to locking up a target. To boresight, a certain reference point on the ground is locked by the targeting pod, known as the Sensor Point of Interest (SPI). The Maverick missile's seeker head is then adjusted to correct small offsets, so that it points at the same SPI as the targeting pod. This allows for simpler target acquisition and deployment.

Variants

• Maverick A is the basic model and uses an electro-optical television guidance system. No longer in U.S. service.
• Maverick B is similar to the A model, although the B model added optical zooming to lock onto small or distant targets.
• Maverick C was to be a laser-guided variant for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was canceled before production, however its requirement was later met by the Maverick E.
• Maverick D replaced the electro-optical guidance with an imaging infrared system which doubled the practical firing distance and allowed for its use at night and during bad weather. A reduced smoke rocket engine was also introduced in this model. It achieved its initial operation capability in 1986.
• Maverick E uses a laser designator guidance system optimized for fortified installations using a delayed fuse combined with a heavier penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead (300 lb vs. 125 lb in older models) that perforates a target with its kinetic energy before detonation. It achieved initial operating capability in 1985 and was used mainly by USMC aviation.
• Maverick F, designed specially for United States Navy, it uses a modified Maverick D infrared guidance system optimized for tracking ships fitted onto a Maverick-E body and warhead.
• Maverick G model essentially has the same guidance system as the D with some software modification that enables the pilot to track larger targets. The G model's major difference is its heavier penetrator warhead taken from the Maverick E, compared to the D model's shaped-charge warhead. It completed tests in 1988.
• Maverick H model is an AGM-65B/D missile upgraded with a new charge-coupled device (CCD) seeker better suited for the desert environment.
• Maverick J model is a Navy AGM-65F missile upgraded with the new CCD seeker. However, this conversion is not confirmed.
• Maverick K model is an AGM-65G upgraded with the CCD seeker; at least 1,200, but possibly up to 2,500 AGM-65G rounds are planned for conversion to AGM-65K standard.
• Maverick E2/L model incorporates a laser-guided seeker that allows for designation by the launch aircraft, another aircraft, or a ground source and can engage small, fast moving, and maneuvering targets on land and at sea.

Deployment

The Maverick was declared operational on 30 August 1972 with the F-4D/Es and A-7s initially cleared for the type; the missile made its combat debut four months later with the USAF in Operation Linebacker II, the last major USAF operation of the Vietnam War. During the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, the Israelis used Mavericks to destroy and disable enemy vehicles. Deployment of early versions of the Mavericks in these two wars were successful due to the favorable atmospheric conditions that suited the electro-optical TV seeker. Ninety-nine missiles were fired during the two wars, eighty-four of which were successful..

The Maverick was used for trials with the BGM-34A unmanned aerial vehicle in 1972–1973. Targeting could be carried out with a TV camera in the nose of the UAV or using the seeker of an AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missile also carried by the UAV to locate the target for the Maverick's camera to lock on to.

In June 1975, during a border confrontation, a formation of Iranian F-4E Phantoms destroyed a group of Iraqi tanks by firing 12 Mavericks at them. Five years later, during Operation Morvarid as part of the Iran–Iraq War, Iranian F-4s used Mavericks to sink three Osa II missile boats and four P-6 combat ships. Due to weapons embargoes, Iran had to equip its AH-1J SeaCobra helicopters with AGM-65 Maverick missiles and used them with some success in various operations such as Operation Fath ol-Mobin wherein Iranian AH-1Js fired 11 Mavericks.

In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. In early 1991, the US-led Coalition executed Operation Desert Storm during which Mavericks played a crucial role in the ousting of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Employed by F-15E Strike Eagles, F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, but used mainly by the last two, more than 5,000 Mavericks were used to attack armored targets. The most-used variant by the USAF was the IIR-guided AGM-65D. The Maverick was used again in Iraq during the 2003 Iraq War, during which 918 were fired.

The first time the Maverick was fired from a Lockheed P-3 Orion at a hostile vessel was when the USN and coalition units came to the aid of Libyan rebels to engage the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Vittoria in the port of Misrata, Libya, during the late evening of 28 March 2011. Vittoria was engaged and fired upon by a USN P-3C Maritime Patrol aircraft with AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

Launch platforms

United States

LAU-117 Maverick launchers have been used on US Army, USN, USAF, and USMC aircraft (some platforms may load LAU-88 triple-rail launchers when configured and authorized):

• Bell AH-1W SuperCobra
• Boeing AH-64D/E Apache
• Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
• McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk II
• Grumman A-6E SWIP Intruder
• Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II
• General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark
• General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon
• Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
• Lockheed P-3C Orion
• LTV A-7E Corsair II
• McDonnell Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II
• McDonnell Douglas F-4G Phantom II
• McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C+ Hornet

Export

The Maverick has been exported to at least 35 countries:

• Australia Royal Australian Air Force: F/A-18
• Belgium Belgian Air Component: F-16
• Canada Royal Canadian Air Force: CF-18
• Chile Chilean Air Force: F-16 AM/BM MLU, F-16 C/D Block 50+
• Czech Republic Czech Air Force: L-159
• Denmark Royal Danish Air Force: F-16 (AGM-65G)
• Egypt Egyptian Air Force: F-4 and F-16 (AGM-65A/B/E)
• Greece Hellenic Air Force: F-4 and F-16 Blocks 30, 50, and 52+
• Hungary Hungarian Air Force: JAS 39
• Indonesia Indonesian Air Force: F-16AM/BM Block 20 eMLU, F-16C/D Block 52ID, Hawk 209, T-50I (AGM-65B/D/G/K)
• Iraq Iraqi Air Force: F-16C/D Block 52 (AGM-65D/G/H/K)
• Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: F-4E and SH-3D; Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation: AH-1J
• Israel Israeli Air Force: F-4E and F-16
• Italy Italian Navy: AV-8B
• Japan JSDF: P-1 F-2
• Jordan Royal Jordanian Air Force: F-16 MLU and F-5E/F
• Kuwait Kuwait Air Force
• Malaysia Royal Malaysian Air Force: F/A-18D, and Hawk 208
• Morocco Royal Moroccan Air Force: F-5E/F (AGM-65B), F-16 Block 52+ (AGM-65D/G/H)
• Netherlands Royal Netherlands Air Force: F-16 (AGM-65D, AGM-65G)
• Oman Royal Air Force of Oman: F-16
• Pakistan Pakistan Air Force: F-16
• Peru Peruvian Navy: SH-2G
• Philippines Philippine Air Force: FA-50PH (AGM-65G2)
• Poland Polish Air Force: F-16 Block 50/52+
• Portugal Portuguese Air Force: A-7P. Capable of being launched by the Portuguese P-3C Cup+.
• Romania Romanian Air Force: F-16A/B Block 15 MLU
• Saudi Arabia Royal Saudi Air Force: F-5E
• Serbia Serbian Air Force and Air Defence: J-22 and G-4
• Singapore Republic of Singapore Air Force: A-4SU, F-5S, F-16C/D Block 52, F-15SG and Hunter
• South Korea Republic of Korea Air Force: FA-50, TA-50, F-16, F-15K, F-4
• Spain Spanish Air Force: F/A-18; and Spanish Navy: AV-8B
• Switzerland Swiss Air Force: F-5F and Hunter
• Republic of China Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan): AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo (AGM-65B), and F-5E/F (AGM-65B)
• Thailand Royal Thai Air Force: F-16A/B Block 15 OCU/ADF and JAS 39
• Turkey Turkish Air Force: F-4
• Tunisia Tunisian Air Force: F-5

Former users

• Germany German Air Force: F-4F after being upgraded in the early 1980s under Project Peace Rhine, retired in 2013.
• New Zealand Royal New Zealand Navy: SH-2G; and Royal New Zealand Air Force: A-4K (after being upgraded in the late 1980s under Project Kahu, retired 2001).
• Sweden Swedish Air Force: Designated RB 75; used on the AJ37 Viggen
• United Kingdom Royal Air Force: Harrier GR7
• :

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. (16 November 2007). "AGM-65 Maverick". United States Air Force.
2. (7 April 2005). "Raytheon (Hughes) AGM-65 Maverick".
3. {{harvnb. Bonds. Miller. 2002
4. (2001). "AGM-65 Maverick".
5. (2007). "AGM-65 Maverick".
6. {{harvnb. Clancy. 1995
7. Lambeth, Benjamin. (2000). "The Transformation of American Air Power". Cornell University Press.
8. (9 October 1969). "Maverick Under Control". Flight International.
9. {{harvnb. Clancy. 1995
10. Lewis, Paul. (30 April – 6 May 2002). "Raytheon considers turbojet as part of Maverick missile upgrade package".
11. Leone, Dario. (2021-12-27). "A-10 pilot explains why Warthog drivers often boresight the AGM-65 Maverick on wingman rather than on a ground target".
12. Nachshen, Mike. (9 August 2011). "U.S. Air Force Completes Developmental Testing of Raytheon Laser-Guided Maverick".
13. Donald, David. (February 15, 2012). "Laser Maverick Missile Will Hit Pirates".
14. (23 November 1972). "Maverick: smarter than average". [[Flight International]].
15. {{harvnb. Clancy. 1995
16. {{harvnb. Anderegg. 2001
17. (2 August 1980). "Air-to-ground: Hughes AGM-65 Maverick". [[Flight International]].
18. {{harvnb. Laur. Llanso. 1995
19. {{harvnb. Pretty. 1976
20. {{harvnb. Laur. Llanso. 1995
21. "Operation Morvarid".
22. "AH-1J firing Maverick".
23. (June 2011). "Table of contents".
24. Shahmohammadi, Hojjat. (2009). "هوانيروز در فتحالمبين". Aja (Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran).
25. Elliott, Simon. "The Missiles That Worked". [[Flight International]].
26. Ripley, Tim. (2013). "Conflict in the Balkans, 1991–2000". Osprey Publishing.
27. U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs. (31 March 2011). "Navy Firsts During Odyssey Dawn". [[United States European Command]].
28. (13 October 2006). "F/A-18 fact file". United States Navy.
29. Morgan, Rick. (2017). "A-6 Intruder Units: 1974-1996". Osprey Publishing.
30. (23 April 2000). "LAU-117 Maverick Launcher". FAS Military Analysis Network.
31. {{harvnb. Karim. 1996
32. "AGM-65 Maverick Tactical Air-Ground Missile, United States of America". Airforce-technology.com.
33. "Belgium - Belgische Luchtmacht/Force Aérienne Belge Belgian Air Force - BAF".
34. (26 March 2007). "Technical Specifications: CF-188 Hornet". [[Department of National Defence (Canada).
35. (23–29 June 1999). "L-159 calls the shots in Norway". [[Flight International]].
36. {{harvnb. Friedman. 2006
37. "Denmark - Flyvevaben Royal Danish Air Force - RDAF".
38. (5 February 1983). "Hughes AGM-65 Maverick". [[Flight International]].
39. (2016). "Iraqi Air Power Reborn: The Iraqi air arms since 2004". Harpia Publishing.
40. (June 2012). "次期固定哨戒機（XP-1）性能評価を実施中".
41. (14–20 September 1994). "Malaysia asks for more F-18s". [[Flight International]].
42. (2019). "Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 2: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1975-1991". Helion & Company Publishing.
43. {{harvnb. Cooper. 2018
44. "The Netherlands - Koninklijke Luchtmacht Royal Netherlands Air Force - RNlAF".
45. "Oman - Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Sultanat Oman Royal Air Force of Oman - RAFO".
46. (September 16, 2019). "Philippine Air Force receives AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65G2 Maverick air-to-ground missiles".
47. "Portugal - Força Aérea Portuguesa Portuguese Air Force - PoAF".
48. [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. F-15S]]{{harvnb. Cooper. 2018
49. "Soko J-22 Orao Ground Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft, Bosnia and Herzegovina".
50. "Soko G-4 Super Galeb Military Trainer and Ground Attack Aircraft, Serbia".
51. Sung-Ki, Jung. (15 February 2008). "S. Korea Speeds Up Air Changes". DefenseNews.com.
52. "South Korea - Han-guk Kong Goon Republic of Korea Air Force - RoKAF".
53. (20–26 February 2001). "Australian navy makes avionics software deal". [[Flight International]].
54. (13 May 1989). "Kahu Skyhawk fires Maverick". [[Flight International]].
55. (14–20 December 2004). "UK considers decoy for Harriers". [[Flight International]].
56. {{harvnb. Hewson. 2003
57. "AGM-65 Maverick Tactical Air-Ground Missile, United States of America".
58. (22 August 2012). "Indonesia – AGM-65K2 MAVERICK Missiles".
59. (22 December 2014). "NZ sells soon-to-be retired Seasprites to Peru".
60. Lake, Jon. (16 May 2012). "Small force that has wealth of experience".