Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media?

UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media?

a) A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.

b) A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.

c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

d) A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Correct Answer: Option c)

Learn more about the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

The idea behind Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is to put a warhead into a stable orbit and deorbit it over the target. If the target and the launch position is lined up and the warhead keeps going round, it will complete a circle. Obviously, with the earth moving during this, it is more of a spiral than a ring, but the horizontal movement is countered in such a way that the warhead still goes over the target. The real point is that a missile can be flown directly to the target, or it is fired in the opposite direction the other way around the planet and still arrives at the target from the opposite direction.

Salient Features of Fractional Orbital Bombardment System

Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems (FOBS) possess several distinguishing characteristics that make them a formidable weapon:

• Unpredictable trajectory: FOBS can alter their course using thrusters, rendering conventional missile defense systems ineffective. This is particularly concerning for the United States, whose defense relies heavily on detecting ICBMs following a predictable arcing trajectory.
• Stealthy approach: FOBS can approach targets from any direction, making it challenging for early warning systems to detect them. This is further complicated by the fact that North American early warning systems are primarily focused on threats from the North Pole, while FOBS can target North America from the South Pole.
• Global reach: Unlike conventional missiles with limited ranges, FOBS have no range limit, allowing them to target any point on Earth. This presents a significant security threat to nations around the globe.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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