AGM-65 Maverick

AGM-65 Maverick is a tactical air-to-ground missile associated with close air support, interdiction and attacks on armored vehicles or air-defense targets. It gave fighter and attack aircraft a guided standoff weapon sized for battlefield targets rather than strategic infrastructure. That made it a practical precision weapon for many aircraft types.

Maverick capability comes from seeker diversity and tactical flexibility. Different versions use television, imaging infrared or laser guidance, giving crews options against vehicles, bunkers and other point targets. The missile is useful because it lets aircraft engage from outside some short-range threats while keeping effects focused.

Maverick remains important because it sits in a useful middle ground: more precise and target-selective than unguided rockets or bombs, but smaller and cheaper than long-range cruise missiles. Its broad integration across aircraft makes it a common reference point for tactical precision strike.