You’re most likely thinking of the Iskander missile system.

Name: 9K720 Iskander (NATO: SS-26 Stone)
Country: Russia
Launcher: Large mobile truck (TEL – Transporter-Erector-Launcher)

Why it looks like that when launched:

• The missile is launched almost vertically from the truck.

• It rises several meters (or more), then pitches over (“flips”).

• After that, it flies horizontally on a quasi-ballistic trajectory toward the target.

This vertical launch + pitch-over maneuver is exactly the behavior you described.

Similar systems (less likely, but sometimes confused):

• Scud (SS-1) – older Soviet missile, similar launch style but much bigger and older.

• Tochka-U (SS-21) – smaller, older tactical missile, also truck-launched.

If the video looks modern, very agile, and often discussed in recent news, it’s almost certainly Iskander.

Got it — thanks for clarifying 👍
Based on your description (truck → vertical launch → sharp flip → horizontal flight), the most likely one is actually an air-defense missile, not a ballistic missile.

Most likely match

S-300 / S-400 air defense missile

• Launcher: Large military truck with vertical tubes

• Launch behavior:

  • Missile is ejected straight up

  • Then it hard-turns (flips) toward the target

  • Continues flying horizontally

• This dramatic “up-then-turn” is very distinctive and often seen in videos

This is called a cold launch — the missile pops out first, then the engine ignites and it turns.

Other possible (but less common) matches

• S-350 Vityaz – newer Russian air-defense system, similar launch style

• Pantsir-S1 – smaller missiles, but usually shorter range and less dramatic flip

• Bastion-P (P-800 Oniks) – anti-ship missile, also truck-launched and pitches over, but much larger and usually coastal

Quick check to confirm

If in the video:

• Multiple missiles launch one after another ✅

• Missiles are relatively slim and fast ✅

• Launch tubes are straight vertical ✅

Then it’s S-300 or S-400.

If you want, describe how big the missile looked or what the truck looked like, or tell me where you saw the video (news / YouTube / combat footage) and I can pinpoint the exact system.