South Korea is set to expand its strike capabilities after the US State Department approved a potential $34-million sale of RTX AGM-65G2 Maverick missiles.
The proposed package includes 44 missiles, plus logistics and program support, aimed at strengthening Seoul’s air-to-ground strike capacity.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, “This sale will enhance the Republic of Korea’s ability to counter current and future threats, improve its critical air defense capabilities, deter aggression in the region, and maintain interoperability with US forces.”
This transfer is part of a wider US initiative to reinforce South Korea’s defenses amid regional security challenges posed by China and North Korea. Earlier in September, the US reactivated a historic squadron to manage MQ-9 Reaper drone operations in the country and deployed the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) mobile air defense system for the first time on the peninsula.
About the Maverick
The AGM-65 Maverick, first deployed by the US military in 1972, is a tactical missile used for close air support, interdiction, and suppression of enemy defenses, designed to engage armored vehicles, ships, bunkers, and other fortified targets.
The G2 model requested by South Korea incorporates imaging infrared guidance, a heavyweight penetrator warhead, and upgraded tracking software. When launched from high-altitude aircraft like the F-16, it travels at speeds up to 1,150 km/h (715 mph) with a range of 27 km (17 miles).
