The term 'Thermal High Altitude Area Defense', sometimes mentioned in news, refers to
- A.Anti-Missile system.
- B.Air-launched cruise missile.
- C.Aircraft navigation system.
- D.Surface-to-air guided weapon.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Anti-Missile system. THAAD, properly the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, is a United States system built to shoot down ballistic missiles in the last, or terminal, phase of their flight.
Developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Army, THAAD uses a powerful X-band radar to track an incoming ballistic missile and fires an interceptor that destroys it by direct impact, the hit-to-kill method, without any explosive warhead. It can engage targets both inside and just outside the atmosphere. Its deployment in South Korea and in West Asia has often made news, which is why the name appears in exam papers.
B is wrong because THAAD does not attack ground targets; a cruise missile such as BrahMos is an offensive weapon. C is wrong because it is a weapon system, not a navigation aid for aircraft. D is wrong because a general surface-to-air weapon targets aircraft, while THAAD is specialised for intercepting ballistic missiles.
Exam tip: THAAD and Patriot are US missile shields; S-400 is Russian; Iron Dome is Israeli.
Practice Questions
View allThe terms 'Pinaka and Smerch' mentioned in news recently refer to
- A.Cruise missiles
- B.Nuclear-powered submarines
- C.Rocket launcher systems
- D.Weaponised drones
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Pinaka and Smerch are both multi-barrel rocket launchers used by the Indian Army's artillery. Pinaka was developed by DRDO, with the Armament Research and Development Establishment at Pune as the lead laboratory, and is named after the bow of Lord Shiva.
Read the full explanation →P-75I (or P-75 India) project refers to manufacture of
- A.Diesel-electric submarines.
- B.Nuclear-powered submarines.
- C.Aircraft carrier warships.
- D.Field guns.
Show answer
Project 75 India, or P-75I, is the Indian Navy's plan to build six advanced conventional diesel-electric submarines in India. Its key requirement is Air Independent Propulsion, which lets a conventional submarine stay submerged for much longer without surfacing to charge its batteries.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements about India's military arsenal is/are correct ? 1. HAMMER is a weapon system built for the Rafale fighter aircraft. 2. SCALP cruise missile is also known as Storm Shadow. 3. BrahMos missiles are built under a joint venture between India and Russia. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1, 2 and 3
- D.3 only
Show answer
All three statements describe the weapons correctly. HAMMER, short for Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range, is a French precision-guided air-to-ground bomb kit made by Safran; India bought it to arm its Rafale jets, which can strike targets tens of kilometres away with it.
Read the full explanation →India's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an aero-engine which will potentially make India self-reliance in aero-engine technology. What is the name of the engine?
- A.Ganga
- B.Yamuna
- C.Krishna
- D.Kaveri
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Kaveri is the turbofan aero-engine developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of DRDO in Bengaluru. The Kaveri project began in the late 1980s to power the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is correct regarding LOFAR (Low Frequency Array)?
- A.It is the world's most powerful radio antenna.
- B.It is a space technology launched by NASA to discover exoplanets.
- C.It is an arrangement of satellites in space for the purpose of creating Satellite Navigation System.
- D.It is a wireless communication technology for 5G services.
Show answer
LOFAR, the Low Frequency Array, is a huge radio telescope network built by ASTRON in the Netherlands, described as the largest and most sensitive radio telescope working at low frequencies.
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