Surface-to-Air and Air Defense Missiles

This group collects the Missiles And Guided Munitions subcategory's ground- and ship-based air defense missile systems: surface-to-air missile systems of every range band from short-range point defense to long-range and mobile theater systems, anti-ballistic missile and exoatmospheric interceptor systems, and naval shipboard air defense missiles. With 49 attested members this is the subcategory's second-largest subtype, reflecting the wide range of national air defense architectures fielded since the mid-twentieth century. Shoulder-fired, individually carried systems are classified separately under the sibling Man-Portable Air Defense Systems group, since their scale and doctrine differ from a vehicle- or installation-based air defense system.