与空中防空系统不同, GBAD systems are operated from the surface of the earth or from ships located in marine environments. Modern GBAD technologies include guns and missile systems aimed at targeting and destroying aircraft and other threats, as well as jammers that can be used to interfere with the instrumentation of attacking aircraft. Passive GBAD measures include the use of camouflage and decoys to confuse pilots, while barrage balloons have traditionally been used to stop aircraft from approaching closely to assets.
Ground-based air defence is often seen as more economical form of defence against air threats than maintaining fighter squadrons. GBAD可以长期部署并留在原地, 只有在威胁临近时才会活跃起来. GBAD系统相对较低的成本意味着它们可以被广泛部署, with a combination of short-, 实现高度覆盖的中远程系统.