What is the primary function of a shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile?

The primary function of a shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile is to engage low-flying fixed and rotary aircraft. These types of missiles, often referred to as MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems), are designed to be portable and deployed by individual soldiers or small teams. They are specifically engineered to target and neutralize aircraft that operate at lower altitudes, which is where many rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft conduct their missions, such as surveillance, transport, or ground attack.

In tactical applications, these missiles provide an effective way for ground forces to defend against aerial threats that could approach closely, such as helicopters operating in a close air support role or low-flying airplanes attempting to evade radar detection. The design and targeting capabilities of shoulder-launched missiles make them particularly suited for this purpose, allowing operators to acquire and engage targets with a high degree of accuracy at such altitudes.

Other options focus on different aspects of aerial threat engagement, such as high-altitude visibility or drone interception, but shoulder-launched systems are primarily optimized for low-altitude scenarios where they can have the most impact.