Q43 · UPSC Prelims 2018 · Set A · Science and Technology

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What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news?

A An Israeli radar system
B India's indigenous anti-missile programme
C An American anti-missile system
D A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

Correct answer: (c) An American anti-missile system

Explanation

  1. A

    An Israeli radar system

    (a) An Israeli radar system. Israel’s Arrow and Iron Dome are different. THAAD is American. This is not the key.

  2. B

    India's indigenous anti-missile programme

    (b) India's indigenous anti-missile programme. That is the BMD / Prithvi Defence Vehicle effort, not THAAD. This is not the key.

  3. C

    An American anti-missile system

    (c) An American anti-missile system. (c) Official key: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense is a US Army hit-to-kill system against ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. Deployments in South Korea made news. That is the stored key.

  4. D

    A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

    (d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea. THAAD is a US system; Japan and South Korea may host or discuss it, but it is not a Japan–Korea joint product. This is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (c). THAAD is a United States terminal-phase anti-ballistic missile system. It is not Israeli radar, not India’s BMD, and not a Japan–South Korea collaboration. Honour the stored letter (c).