Rocket "earth - earth"

The British launched the German V-2 rocket from the launch pad near Cuxhaven during Operation Backfire in 1945

The “ground-to-ground” missile ^{[1] [2]} ( “surface-to-surface” , “ground-to-ship” , “ship-to-ground” , “ship-to-ship” ) is the widest class of combat missiles , the representatives of which are designed to hit targets on the surface of the earth , water , as well as buried objects. As a rule, they are part of the missile system . In English-language literature, surface-to-surface missiles are designated as “ SSM ” ( English surface-to-surface missile ) or “ GGM ” ( English ground-to-ground missile ), in French-language “ SS ” ( French sol-sol )

Surface-to-surface missiles are distinguished by purpose, range, nature of flight, control systems, propulsion systems and other parameters.

The launch of surface-to-surface missiles can be carried out from portable devices, self-propelled or towed installations, from stationary structures or from ships of various types. The flight of missiles of the described class is carried out, as in other cases, due to the thrust created during the operation of the jet engine . To stabilize a rocket in flight, stabilizers are usually used, and to create lift, wings or kinetic energy provided by the engine are used (flying along a ballistic trajectory). The first guided missile of the "ground-to-ground" class was the German V-1 .

Modern surface-to-surface missiles, as a rule, are controllable, that is, they contain special equipment on board that control the flight of the rocket throughout the flight or part of it in order to ensure the destruction of the target. Unguided missiles in Russia (formerly in the USSR) are also called rockets (NURS).