air-to-surface

adjective

air-to-sur·​face

: launched from an airplane or helicopter at a target on the earth's surface

The B-52G … was equipped at one time with the Hound Dog air-to-surface missile, which had a range of over 500 miles.

—Jeffrey A. Merkley, B-1B Bomber and Options for Enhancements, 1988

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

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