Knowra Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile A guided weapon launched from land or a ship to intercept airborne targets. It uses onboard guidance or commands from an external system to steer toward its target.
Missile guidance : Methods that direct a missile toward a target using onboard sensors, external commands, or both. Guidance keeps the missile on an intercept path as the target moves.
Integrated air defense system : A coordinated network of sensors, command systems, and weapons designed to detect and counter airborne threats. Surface-to-air missiles operate within wider systems that coordinate detection and engagement.
Anti-aircraft warfare : Military operations intended to detect, deter, or defeat attacks by aircraft and other airborne threats. Surface-to-air missiles are a central weapon in ground-based and naval air defense.
Man-portable air-defense system : A portable, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile system operated by a small crew or individual. MANPADS are the most portable end of the surface-to-air missile family.
Nike Hercules : A United States surface-to-air missile system developed to defend against high-altitude aircraft and, in a limited role, ballistic missiles. Nike Hercules illustrates an early long-range system built for continental air defense.
Radar homing : Missile guidance that uses radar energy to track a target, either from the missile or an external transmitter. Many systems use radar homing to update the missile’s aim during flight.
Air defense radar : A radar system that detects, tracks, or identifies aircraft and other airborne objects for defensive operations. Radar supplies the tracks used to decide when and where to launch.
Ballistic missile defense : Systems and operations intended to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles. Some surface-launched interceptors are designed to engage ballistic missiles.
Anti-aircraft gun : A gun designed to engage aircraft or other airborne targets with direct-fire projectiles. Guns use unguided projectiles rather than guided missiles to reach targets.
S-75 Dvina : A Soviet-designed medium-to-high-altitude surface-to-air missile system, designated SA-2 by NATO. Its 1960 shootdown of a U-2 aircraft showed the danger to high-altitude reconnaissance.
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