What type of aircraft do shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles primarily target?

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Shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) are primarily designed to target low-flying fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. These types of missiles are effective against aircraft that are operating close to the ground where they are most vulnerable, such as during takeoff, landing, or when flying at lower altitudes for operations like surveillance, transportation, or troop deployment.

Low-flying aircraft generally include helicopters and smaller planes that may not be equipped with advanced countermeasures against such threats. The operational range and function of MANPADS allow them to be used effectively in environments where traditional air defense systems may not be present, making them particularly dangerous in asymmetric warfare scenarios.

In contrast, while commercial airliners, military bombers, and multinational cargo planes can be potential targets under certain circumstances, they typically operate at higher altitudes where MANPADS are less effective or may be out of range. Military bombers and larger aircraft often have multiple layers of defense, while commercial and cargo planes usually avoid low-altitude operations unless necessary.

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