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Q43 (IAS/2018) Science & Technology › Space & Defence Technology › Missile and weapon systems Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: C
Explanation

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is the United States' antiballistic missile defense system.[1] It is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range ballistic missiles.[2] THAAD provides a transportable, rapidly deployable ground-based regional missile defense capability to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.[3] The system has been deployed in various locations, including on the Korean peninsula, where the U.S. and South Korea agreed to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defence system.[4] Therefore, option C is correct as THAAD is clearly an American anti-missile system, not an Israeli radar system (option A), India's indigenous programme (option B), or a Japan-South Korea collaboration (option D).

Sources
  1. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_High_Altitude_Area_Defense
  2. [4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/U.S.-to-deploy-anti-missile-system-on-Korean-peninsula-Pentagon/article14477800.ece
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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Out of everyone who attempted this question.
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news ? [A] An Israeli radar system [B] India's indigenous …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 ¡ 10/10
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This is a pure Current Affairs question driven by high-voltage geopolitical friction (US-South Korea vs. China). If a defence system alters the regional balance of power or triggers diplomatic protests—as THAAD did with China's furious reaction—it becomes a prime candidate for Prelims.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) an Israeli radar system?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"US ballistic missile defense system | Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) | | Place of origin | United States"
Why this source?
  • Directly identifies THAAD as a U.S. ballistic missile defense system, not an Israeli radar.
  • Specifies place of origin as United States, which contradicts the claim that it is Israeli.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) *Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)* is the United States' antiballistic missile defense system."
Why this source?
  • States THAAD is the United States' antiballistic missile defense system.
  • Describes its interceptor-launcher operation, showing it is a missile-defense weapon system rather than a radar.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"THAAD provides a transportable, rapidly deployable ground-based regional missile defense capability to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles."
Why this source?
  • Describes THAAD as a transportable, ground-based missile defense capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles.
  • Emphasizes its role as an interceptor system, not a radar developed or operated by Israel.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
Strength: 4/5
“*Note: • (1) GAGAN is a satellite-based augmentation system and stands for GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation which is a joint project between ISRO and the Airports Authority of India.• (2) NavIC is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.”
Why relevant

Shows that named technical systems (e.g., GAGAN) are described with their national developers/partners (ISRO and AAI), implying that origin is commonly stated for such systems.

How to extend

A student could look up how THAAD is described in similar references to see which country or agencies are named as developers/operators to judge its origin.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > India's Man in Space > p. 715
Strength: 3/5
“Before 1984, neither India nor Pakistan had any permanent presence in the area. However, in order to reinforce their claim on the area, the Pakistanis encouraged expeditions to the glacier on the basis of permits given by their government. Becoming aware of this in about 1978, an Indian Army expedition was also sent to Teram Kangri peaks as a counter-exercise. To free the glacier from Pakistani domination, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984, and Siachen became the world's highest battlefield. India was victorious in the conflict; two passes, namely, Sia La and Bilfond La, were secured by India while Pakistan retained control of the Gyong La pass.”
Why relevant

Describes military expeditions and national actions (Operation Meghdoot) to secure strategic areas, illustrating that defense assets and systems are tied to specific national armed forces.

How to extend

One could extend this pattern by checking which nation's military doctrine or forces operate THAAD-like systems to infer whether it is likely Israeli or from another country.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Siachin/Aksai chin Glacier Dispute > p. 39
Strength: 3/5
“Indian troops use the Nubra valley route KhardungLa (Pass) to reach the Aksai chin glacier. The glacier has four passes. Of these, Gesar, Broom, Saltoro, and Vilafondala are under the possession of India and Gyong under Pakistan. The Siachin glacier attracted the attention of India when Pakistan permitted some Japanese tourists for skiing in this area and scaling some peaks under India possession. Moreover, Pakistan established an observation post on the Saltoro Range. To counter this move, India launched Operation Meghdoot on April 3, 1984. Since then both the countries are maintaining troops in this inhospitable environment”
Why relevant

Notes use of observation posts and troop deployments by nations in contested high-altitude regions, reinforcing that surveillance/defense systems are typically national assets.

How to extend

Using this rule, a student could verify whether THAAD is linked to Israel by searching for national attribution in defense literature or announcements.

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