The US State Department has authorized a possible $34-million foreign military sale to South Korea for 44 RTX-manufactured AGM-65G2 Maverick tactical missiles, reinforcing Seoul’s strategic air strike capabilities. The deal, which includes supporting logistics and program elements, will help the Republic of Korea Air Force expand its advanced air-to-ground weapon inventory.
Officials from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that the proposed transfer is intended to boost South Korea’s defensive posture, deter regional aggression, and ensure seamless integration with US military assets stationed on the peninsula. It also reflects Washington’s broader commitment to reinforcing allied defenses across East Asia amid ongoing security challenges posed by China and North Korea.
This latest Maverick deal comes on the heels of other high-profile US deployments to South Korea, notably the arrival of an MQ-9 Reaper operating squadron and the region’s first stationing of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability air defense system, signaling robust levels of bilateral defense cooperation.
The AGM-65G2 variant is the latest upgrade in the Maverick missile family, originally entering US military service in 1972. It features advanced imaging infrared targeting, a heavy-duty penetrator warhead capable of defeating hardened targets, and sophisticated tracking software. In practice, the missile can be fired from platforms like the F-16, delivering precise strikes at speeds of up to 1,150 kilometers per hour and ranges approaching 27 kilometers—capacity that will enhance South Korea’s ability to respond rapidly to threats.
