South Korea is set to bolster its aerial strike capabilities following approval from the US State Department for a potential $34-million foreign military sale involving RTX-made AGM-65G2 Maverick tactical missiles. Under the deal, Seoul plans to acquire 44 of these advanced missiles, along with comprehensive logistics and program support designed to strengthen its air-to-ground attack arsenal.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency emphasized that this proposed sale will enhance South Korea’s ability to address evolving security challenges, significantly elevating its air defense against regional threats and supporting joint operational goals with American forces. The agreement forms part of an ongoing push by the United States to deepen military cooperation and shore up Seoul’s defenses as tensions persist with both China and North Korea.
This move follows a series of recent US defense initiatives on the Korean Peninsula, including the reactivation of a World War II squadron to manage MQ-9 Reaper drone operations and the landmark deployment of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability air defense system to South Korea.
First fielded by US forces in 1972, the AGM-65 Maverick is a time-tested tactical guided missile favored for close air support and interdiction missions. The G2 variant ordered by Seoul boasts an imaging infrared guidance system, a powerful penetrator warhead, and updated software for highly accurate targeting.
When launched from a high-altitude aircraft such as South Korea’s F-16 fighters, the AGM-65G2 Maverick reaches speeds of up to 1,150 kilometers per hour and can hit targets up to 27 kilometers away, making it a formidable addition to the South Korean Air Force’s arsenal.
