How to Use surface-to-air in a Sentence

surface-to-air

adjective
  • Whether that same seeker might work in the surface-to-air role is an open question.
    — David Axe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
  • However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
  • At the start of the year, Iran only had four S300 surface-to-air missile systems.
    — Louis Casiano, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2024
  • There is no evidence to support the idea that the jet was downed by a surface-to-air missile, Brig.
    — Alexander Smith, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2023
  • While these surface-to-air missiles are coming up at them from North Vietnam.
    — Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023
  • Two surface-to-air missile launches are seen or heard, followed by the sound of an explosion.
    — Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2023
  • And if any surface-to-air missile batteries or radars went up in flames in the raid, there could be a new gap in Russian air defenses.
    — David Axe, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
  • The missile raids clearly have made the Russian air force surface-to-air missile batteries in Crimea jumpy.
    — David Axe, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Iran did not deploy fighters or surface-to-air missiles during the mission, Caine said.
    — Luis Martinez, ABC News, 22 June 2025
  • Ukraine has successfully used both surface-to-air missiles and ground fire to target them.
    — Joseph Federman, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
  • There was no indication a surface-to-air missile was the cause of the crash, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2023
  • The Houthis have surface-to-air missiles — such as the Iranian missile known as the 358 — capable of downing aircraft.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Houthis have surface-to-air missiles -- such as the Iranian missile known as the 358 -- capable of downing aircraft.
    — Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Ukrainian air defense teams have been trained to use the advanced surface-to-air systems, which take up to 90 people to operate and maintain.
    — Peter Weber, The Week, 19 Apr. 2023
  • The yacht is also rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend.
    — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024
  • Those were likely missiles used to destroy radars that can target warplanes with surface-to-air missiles.
    — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • Other infantry teams lie in wait with surface-to-air missiles to take down Russian helicopters.
    — Missy Ryan, Isabelle Khurshudyan and Michael Birnbaum, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 19 July 2023
  • France has placed orders for new arms, including artillery shells, surface-to-air missiles and air defense systems to assist Ukraine in the near term.
    — Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Fighting off twice or three times that number with dwindling reserves of surface-to-air missiles will be a bigger challenge.
    — David Hambling, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
  • American short-range fighter aircraft can drop bombs and take out enemy planes and surface-to-air missiles.
    — Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Show more The armed group has used surface-to-air missiles on several occasions since Oct. 7 to target Israeli aircraft.
    — NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
  • Ukraine’s most urgent need is for long-range surface-to-air missiles that can protect cities and bases from the most powerful Russian ballistic missiles.
    — David Axe, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • Again, nothing to indicate, no information to suggest that there was a surface-to-air missile.
    — Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023
  • The Kremlin’s forces used tanks, drones, mortars, warplanes, multiple rocket launchers and surface-to-air missiles to bombard Ukraine, the report said.
    — Susie Blann, BostonGlobe.com, 8 May 2023
  • General Ryder did not state a theory for the crash, but said the United States had no information to indicate that a surface-to-air missile brought down the plane.
    — Robin Stein, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2023
  • In recent days, Hezbollah began using surface-to-air missiles, along with artillery and rockets.
    — Dan De Luce, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2023
  • More deception tactics were used, Caine said, and support aircraft pushed out in front of the main strike group at a high altitude and speed to sweep for enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025
  • Sources have suggested that a Russian surface-to-air missile system was responsible for the crash, but their reports have not been confirmed.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The Stinger is a portable surface-to-air defense system that can be carried and fired by troops or mounted onto a vehicle and used as short-range defense against aircraft.
    — Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2024
  • The Houthis rely on surface-to-air missiles supplied by Iran, but any future opponent is likely to have access to low-cost interceptors like those seen in Ukraine.
    — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surface-to-air.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: