What is THAAD? — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2018

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

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

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• In 2017, the United States began delivering the THAAD system for deployment in South Korea. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or simply abbreviated as THAAD, is a missile defence system that is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase. It cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy. Its role is simply to track and destroy missiles before they are launched.

Answer: (c) An American anti-missile system; Difficulty Level: Easy