Question

UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

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

  1. 1. An Israeli radar system
  2. 2. India's indigenous anti-missile programme
  3. 3. An American anti-missile system
  4. 4. A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3: An American anti-missile system

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

  • The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is an American anti-missile system that is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase. First proposed in 1987 and then finally deployed in 2008, the THAAD cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy. Its role, by use of a powerful radar, is to simply track and destroy missiles before they are launched.

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Science & Technology | Defence and Related Developments

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