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air-to-air

American  
[air-too-air, -tuh-] / ˈɛər tuˈɛər, -tə- /

adjective

  1. operating between airborne objects, especially aircraft.

    air-to-air missiles; air-to-air communication.


adverb

  1. from one aircraft, missile, or the like, to another while in flight.

    They refueled air-to-air.

air-to-air British  

adjective

  1. operating between aircraft in flight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of air-to-air

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those fighters targeted Iranian drones when Tehran attacked Israel in April 2024 in what the Air Force called the “largest air-to-air enemy engagement in over 50 years.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Since then, the U.S. has equipped F-15Es, which aren’t stealthy, with air-to-air rockets that are specially designed to knock out drones.

From The Wall Street Journal

One week earlier, the State Department approved a separate sale of nearly $1 billion in air-to-air missiles to Denmark.

From Barron's

Europe looks to Washington for intelligence, command and control capabilities, for air force capabilities - such as air-to-air refuelling - and much more.

From BBC

The Typhoons will still operate out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and are expected to start flying missions in the coming days, supported by RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

From BBC