Air-to-surface missile

The two most common propulsion systems for air-to-surface missiles are rocket motors, usually with shorter range, and slower, longer-range jet engines.

Some Soviet-designed air-to-surface missiles are powered by ramjets, giving them both long range and high speed.

A major advantage of air-to-surface missiles for ground attack by aircraft is the standoff distance they provide: missiles can be launched from a distance without coming within range of the target's air defences.

Most air-to-surface missiles are fire-and-forget from a standoff distance, allowing the attacker to withdraw without approaching further after launch.

There have been examples of air-launched ballistic missiles (Air Launched ICBM, GAM-87 Skybolt), but they are rare.

A pilot inspects an AGM-65 Maverick missile on his A-10 Thunderbolt II .
The RAF 's Brimstone missile is a fire and forget anti-tank missile .
A Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile of the German Luftwaffe
The Indian Air Force 's Rudram-1 is an anti-radiation missile