The increasing use of air-to-surface missiles has been evidently rapid in the modern warfare. Initially developed for anti-armour roles, modern technology has enabled these weapons to evolve to perform precision strikes against other target types. The air-to-surface missile (ASM) or air-to-ground missile (AGM or ATGM) is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft (attack aircraft, fighter aircraft or helicopters) and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both. There is some cross-over between air-to-surface missiles and surface-to-surface missiles since their emergence in the early years of the Cold War. For example, there was always an air-launched version such as the Tomahawk missile, the Exocet, the Penguin anti-ship missile and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. Even the latest developments such a Norway's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship missile has an air-launched variant for the F-35 Lightning Ⅱ joint strike fighter. Many air-to-surface missiles can be used against both ships and land targets, although some of them have to be modified to perform both roles effectively. Here ADJ looks at some of the latest air-to-surface missiles in service and for the future.
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