UPSC Prelims 2018 Q43: Science & Technology – Defence Technology
- (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
Answer: (c) An American anti - missile system
Explanation
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
THAAD is an American anti-ballistic missile defence system developed by Lockheed Martin and operated by the US Army. It is designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (final descent) at high altitudes (up to 150 km).
| Option | Correct? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Israeli radar system | NO | Israel operates Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow-3 systems, not THAAD. |
| (b) India's indigenous anti-missile programme | NO | India's BMD has Prithvi Air Defence (PAD), Advanced Air Defence (AAD), AD-1, and S-400 procurement from Russia. |
| (c) American anti-missile system | YES | US Army system, deployed in Guam, South Korea (contentious with China), UAE, Israel. |
| (d) Japan-South Korea defence collaboration | NO | Japan operates Aegis + Patriot; the THAAD deployment in South Korea (2017) actually strained ROK-China ties. |
Answer: (c) An American anti-missile system.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Israeli air defence systems are Iron Dome (short-range rockets), David's Sling (medium), and Arrow-3 (long-range), not THAAD.
- (b) Incorrect. India's indigenous BMD includes PAD/AAD interceptors; THAAD is American and not part of India's arsenal.
- (c) CORRECT. THAAD is a US Army anti-ballistic missile system built by Lockheed Martin, deployed globally.
- (d) Incorrect. THAAD is US-owned; its 2017 deployment in South Korea drew Chinese protests but was not a Japan-Korea collaboration.
Key point
THAAD = US Army ABM system (Lockheed Martin). Terminal-phase intercept up to 150 km altitude. Deployed in South Korea, Guam, UAE, Israel, Romania. South Korea deployment (2017) triggered Chinese economic retaliation.
Remember
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is an American anti-ballistic missile system built by Lockheed Martin and operated by the US Army. It intercepts short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal (final) phase at high altitudes up to 150 km. Its deployment in South Korea in 2017 was strongly opposed by China.
Common mistakes
- Confusing THAAD (US Army terminal-phase ABM) with Patriot PAC-3 (also US, lower-altitude) or Aegis BMD (US Navy, ship-based).
- Assuming any anti-missile system in Asia is Israeli - Iron Dome is Israel's flagship for rockets, while THAAD is US.
- Missing the geopolitical significance - THAAD in South Korea alarmed China because of its powerful X-band radar.
Exam tip
US missile defence layers: THAAD (terminal, high altitude), Patriot PAC-3 (lower altitude), Aegis BMD (Navy, midcourse), GMD (long-range midcourse in Alaska/California). All from US, not Israel or Japan-Korea.
Sources
- US Missile Defense Agency — Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD): fact sheet
- IISS Military Balance - US Ballistic Missile Defence Deployments