What feature makes tactical SAMs distinct from strategic SAMs?

Tactical Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) are designed primarily for short-range defense and are characterized by their mobility and smaller size. This allows them to be deployed quickly and positioned near the front lines, adapting to the rapidly changing dynamics of a battlefield. Their design focuses on being transportable, enabling them to be moved to different locations as combat scenarios evolve.

In contrast, strategic SAMs are generally stationary, larger, and often more expensive due to their longer-range capabilities and the complex defense systems that support them. Tactical SAMs prioritize speed and adaptability over the longer-term investment and infrastructure that strategic systems entail. Therefore, mobility and size are the defining features that distinctly categorize tactical SAMs from their strategic counterparts.