AGM-65 Maverick

AGM-65 Maverick
Type Air-to-surface missile
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 30 August 1972 – present[1]
Used by 30+ countries
Wars Vietnam War
Yom Kippur War
Iran–Iraq War
Persian Gulf War
Iraq War
First Libyan Civil War
Production history
Manufacturer Hughes Missile Systems Division
Raytheon
Unit cost US$17,000 to $110,000, depending on variant[1]
Number built 70,000+
Specifications
Weight 210–304 kg (462–670 lb)[2]
Length 249 cm (8 ft 2 in)[2]
Diameter 30 cm (12 in)[2]
Warhead 57 kg (126 lb) WDU-20/B shaped-charge (A/B/C/D/H models)
136 kg (300 lb) WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation (E/F/G/J/K models)
E models utilize FMU-135/B delayed impact fuze[2]
Engine A/B:Thiokol SR109-TC-1
D/E/F/G/H/J/K: SR114-TC-1 (or Aerojet SR115-AJ-1) Solid propellant rocket motor via a WPU-4/B or WPU-8/B propulsion section[2]
Wingspan 710 mm (2 ft 4 in)[1]
Propellant Solid propellant[1]
Operational
range
 Greater than 22 km (12 nmi)[3]
Speed 1,150 km/h (620 kn)[3]
Guidance
system
 A/B: Electro-optical guidance
H/J/K: charge-coupled device
D/F/G: infrared homing
E: Laser guidance[1][2]

The AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground tactical missile (AGM) designed for close air support. It is the most widely produced precision-guided missile in the Western world,[4] and is effective against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation and fuel storage facilities.

Originally designed and built by Hughes Missile Systems, development of the AGM-65 spanned from 1966 to 1972, after which it entered service with the United States Air Force in August 1972. Since then, it has been exported to more than 30 countries and is certified on 25 aircraft.[5] The Maverick served during the Vietnam, Yom Kippur, Iran–Iraq, and Persian Gulf Wars, along with other smaller conflicts, destroying enemy forces and installations with varying degrees of success.

Since its introduction into service, numerous Maverick versions had been designed and produced, using electro-optical, laser, charge-coupled device and infra-red 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 Maverick shares the same configuration as Hughes's AIM-4 Falcon and AIM-54 Phoenix, and measures more than 2.4 m (8 ft) in length and 30 cm (12 in) in diameter.

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.[6] With a range of 16.3 km (8.8 nmi), 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 risking the crew.[6] Even when it hit, the small 250 pounds (110 kg) warhead was only useful against small targets like bunkers, when used against larger targets like the Thanh Hóa Bridge it did little other than char the structure.[7] 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 later 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.[8] In 1968, Hughes emerged with the $95 million contract for further development and testing of the missile; at the same time, contract options called for 17,000 missiles to be procured.[8] Hughes conducted a smooth development of the AGM-65 Maverick, with the first unguided test launch from a F-4 on 18 September 1969,[9] 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.[8]

In July 1971, the USAF and Hughes signed a $69.9 million contract for 2,000 missiles,[8] the first of which was delivered in 1972.[6] Although early operational results were favorable, military planners predicted that the Maverick would fare less successfully in the hazy conditions of Central Europe, where it would have been used against Warsaw Pact forces.[10] As such, development of the AGM-65B 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.[2]

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.[2][10] 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.[2][10]

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.[2] 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.[2] The version received initial operating capability in February 1986.[1]

The AGM-65F is a hybrid Maverick combining the AGM-65D's IIR seeker and warhead and propulsion components of the AGM-65E.[2] Deployed by the United States Navy (USN), the AGM-65F is optimized for maritime strike roles.[2] 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.[4][11] Meanwhile, Hughes produced the AGM-65G, which essentially has the same guidance system as the D, with some software modifications that track larger targets, coupled with a shaped-charge warhead.[1]

In the mid-1990s to early 2000s, there were several ideas of 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.[12] Another study called "Longhorn Project"[12] was conducted by Hughes, and later Raytheon following the absorption of Hughes into Raytheon, looked a Maverick version equipped with turbojet engines instead of rocket motors. The "Maverick ER", as it was dubbed, would have a "significant increase in range" compared to the Maverick's current range of 25 kilometres (16 mi).[13] 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.[13]


An AGM-65 test-fired against an M48 tank (1978)

The most modern versions of the Maverick are the AGM-65H/K, which were in production as of 2007.[1] 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;[2][13] a parallel USN program aimed at rebuilding AGM-65Fs with newer CCD seekers resulted in the AGM-65J.[2] The AGM-65K, meanwhile, was developed by replacing the AGM-65G's IR guidance system with an electro-optical television guidance system.[1]

Design

The Maverick has a modular design construction, allowing a different combination of the guidance package and warhead to be attached to the rocket motor section to produce a different weapon.[1] It has long-chord delta wings and a cylindrical body, reminiscent of the AIM-4 Falcon and the AIM-54 Phoenix.[3]

Different models of the AGM-65 have used electro-optical, laser, and infra-red guidance systems. The AGM-65 has two types of warheads: 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.[1]

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 (WSO) after which it follows the path to the target autonomously, allowing the WSO to fire and forget. In an A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, for example, the video fed 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 head-up display is shifted by the pilot to set the approximate target while 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.[2]

Variants

Differences between different Maverick versions[1][2][3][5]
AGM-65A/B AGM-65D AGM-65E AGM-65F/G AGM-65H AGM-65J AGM-65K
Length 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
Wingspan 72 cm (28.3 in)
Diameter 30 cm (12 in)
Weight 210 kg (462 lb) 220 kg (485 lb) 293 kg (645 lb) 306 kg (675 lb) 210 or 211 kg (462 or 465 lb) 297 kg (654 lb) 306 kg (675 lb)
Speed 1,150 km/h (620 kn)
Range Greater than 22 km (12 nmi)
Guidance Electro-optical TV Imaging infrared Laser Imaging infrared Charge-coupled device
Propulsion Thiokol SR109-TC-1 solid-fuel rocket Thiokol SR114-TC-1 (or Aerojet SR115-AJ-1) solid-fuel rocket
Warhead 57 kg (126 lb) WDU-20/B shaped-charge 136 kg (300 lb) WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation 57 kg (126 lb) WDU-20/B shaped-charge 136 kg (300 lb) WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation
Laser AGM-65 Maverick on a USN F/A-18C, 2004

Deployment

An A-10 firing a Maverick missile

The Maverick was declared operational on 30 August 1972 with the F-4D/Es and A-7s initially cleared for the type;[8] the missile made its combat debut four months later with the USAF in the Vietnam War.[16] During the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, the Israelis used Mavericks to destroy and disable enemy vehicles.[10] 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.[10] Ninety-nine missiles were fired during the two wars, eighty-four of which were successful.[17][N 1]

In June 1975, during a border confrontation, a formation of Iranian F4E Phantoms destroyed a group of Iraqi tanks by firing 12 Mavericks at them.[19] Five years later, during Operation Pearl 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.[20] 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 Undeniable Victory whereas Iranian AH-1J's fired 11 Mavericks.[21][22][23]

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 deployed to attack armored targets.[1][24] The most-used variant by the USAF was the IIR-guided AGM-65D.[24] The reported hit rate by USAF Mavericks was 80–90%, while for the USMC it was 60%.[2] The Maverick was used again in Iraq during the 2003 Iraq War, during which 918 were fired.[11]

The first time the Maverick were 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.[25]

Launch platforms

Map with AGM-65 operators in blue
An U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet armed with AGM-65 Maverick
An IRIAF F-4E Phantom II carrying four AGM-65 Mavericks

United States

LAU-117 Maverick launchers have been used on USN, USAF, and USMC aircraft:

Export

The Maverick has been exported to at least 30 countries:

See also


Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Laur and Llanso claim that 18 Mavericks were launched for 13 hits during the Vietnam War from January to February 1973, while the Israelis launched 50 Mavericks during the Yom Kippur War for 42 hits and five deliberate misses.[18]
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "AGM-65 Maverick". United States Air Force. 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Raytheon (Hughes) AGM-65 Maverick". Designationsystems.net. 7 April 2005. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bonds & Miller 2002, p. 230.
  4. 1 2 3 "AGM-65 Maverick" (PDF). Raytheon. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  5. 1 2 "AGM-65 Maverick" (PDF). Raytheon. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 Clancy 1995, p. 163
  7. ↑ Lambeth, Benjamin (2000). The Transformation of American Air Power. Cornell University Press. p. 39.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Maverick: smarter than average". Flight International. 23 November 1972. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  9. ↑ "Maverick Under Control". Flight International: 582. 9 October 1969.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Clancy 1995, p. 164
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Friedman 2006, p. 562.
  12. 1 2 Clancy 1995, p. 166.
  13. 1 2 3 Lewis, Paul (30 April – 6 May 2002). "Raytheon considers turbojet as part of Maverick missile upgrade package". Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  14. ↑ U.S. Air Force Completes Developmental Testing of Raytheon Laser-Guided Maverick - Raytheon news release, 9 August 2011
  15. ↑ Laser Maverick Missile Will Hit Pirates - Ainonline.com, 15 February 2012
  16. ↑ Clancy 1995, pp. 163–164.
  17. ↑ "Air-to-ground: Hughes AGM-65 Maverick". Flight International. 2 August 1980. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  18. ↑ Laur & Llanso 1995, pp. 273–274.
  19. ↑ Laur & Llanso 1995, p. 274.
  20. ↑ "Operation Morvarid". Iinavy.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  21. ↑ http://axgig.com/images/79016160811542429413.jpg Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ Welcome Shahed Magazines Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ http://www.aja.ir/portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=3b14fc31-0ee4-4e3f-8809-664c181e3b6d
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Elliott, Simon. "The Missiles That Worked". Flight International. p. 38. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  25. 1 2 U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs (31 March 2011). "Navy Firsts During Odyssey Dawn". United States European Command. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "LAU-117 Maverick Launcher". FAS Military Analysis Network. 23 April 2000. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  27. ↑ "F/A-18 fact file". United States Navy. 13 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Hughes AGM-65 Maverick". Flight International. 5 February 1983. p. 324. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  29. ↑ Karim 1996, p. 71.
  30. ↑ "AGM-65 Maverick Tactical Air-Ground Missile, United States of America". airforce-technology.com. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "Technical Specifications: CF-188 Hornet". Airforce.forces.gc.ca. 26 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  32. ↑ "L-159 calls the shots in Norway". Flight International. 23–29 June 1999. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  33. ↑ "Malaysia asks for more F-18s". Flight International. 14–20 September 1994. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  34. ↑ "Australian navy makes avionics software deal". Flight International. 20–26 February 2001. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  35. ↑ "Kahu Skyhawk fires Maverick". Flight International. 13 May 1989. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  36. ↑ "Soko J-22 Orao Ground Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft, Bosnia and Herzegovina". Airforce-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  37. ↑ "Soko G-4 Super Galeb Military Trainer and Ground Attack Aircraft, Serbia". Airforce-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  38. ↑ Sung-Ki, Jung (15 February 2008). "S. Korea Speeds Up Air Changes". DefenseNews.com. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  39. ↑ Hoyle, Craig; Hasharon, Ramat (14–20 December 2004). "UK considers decoy for Harriers". Flight International. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  40. ↑ "次期固定哨戒機（XP-1）性能評価を実施中". Technical Research and Development Institute. June 2012.
Bibliography

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