surface-to-air

American  

[sur-fis-too-air] / ˈsɜr fɪs tuˈɛər /

adjective

1. (of a missile, message, etc.) capable of traveling from the surface of the earth to a target in the atmosphere.

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adverb

1. from the surface of the earth to a target in the atmosphere.

   an antimissile missile fired surface-to-air.

surface-to-air British  

adjective

1. of or relating to a missile launched from the surface of the earth against airborne targets

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Etymology

Origin of surface-to-air

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

They used an Iranian-provided surface-to-air missile that can loiter in the sky before homing in on heat from the drones.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ukrainian troops also deploy man-portable air-defence systems: guided surface-to-air missiles that are shoulder-launched and originally designed to take down low flying aerial targets.

From Barron's

The Lockheed Martin aircraft has a stealthy design that allows it to evade being targeted by surface-to-air missiles and enter Iranian airspace undetected.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It is unlikely that the significant blast damage seen here was caused by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, which carry relatively small explosive warheads," director of Armament Research Services, Jenzen Jones said.

From BBC

Japan's defence minister upped the ante by saying on Tuesday that Tokyo planned to deploy surface-to-air missiles on one of its remote western islands located near Taiwan by early 2031.

From Barron's