Surface-to-Air Missile

A Surface-to-Air Missile, or SAM, is an unmanned guided weapon system that appears in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In the game, there are six present systems; four located around Area 69 and two in the Easter Basin Naval Station, both places which are no-fly zones.

If the player flies any aircraft, such as a plane, the jetpack, or the Vortex near or over these zones, several heat-seeking missiles, which track the movement of the player's vehicle, will be launched at the player. These missile can severely damage the airplane's wings or engine (or the player if the player is flying a jetpack), making it harder to fly. Depending on the durability and health of the player's vehicle, a few direct hits can destroy and kill the player if they do not eject.

With the use of rockets or heavy weapons, the launchers can be destroyed by the player, but will respawn once the player moves far enough away from them. During the mission Black Project, these sits can be disabled temporarily for the duration of the mission, allowing the player to get a clean escape with the jetpack. However, unlike the SAM turrets at Easter Basin Naval Station, which are permanently disabled after the mission Vertical Bird, the sites at Area 69 will be re-activated after Black Project is completed.

Like other heat-seeking missiles, the SAM missiles can be deterred by using the Hydra's secondary fire, which launches flares.