Questions from Crash Course

1. With reference to the ‘Pralay ballistic missile’ sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: 

1. The Pralay missile is a surface-to-surface indigenously developed by the DRDO.
2. It can hit targets from a distance of 1000 to 1400 km and is powered by a liquid fuel rocket motor.
3. It can destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command centres and airfields.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only                         

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only                          

D. 1, 2 and 3 

2. Which one of the following is the best description of ‘The F/A-18 Super Hornet’, that was in the news recently? 

A. Multi-role attack helicopter 

B. Nuclear-powered submarine

C. Fighter Jet built for carrier operations

D. Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 

Questions from Test Series

3. Consider the following statements:

1. Exercise Udarashakti is a bilateral Naval exercise between India and Indonesia.
2. Exercise Milan 2022 was held in Visakhapatnam for the first time instead of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3. Exercise VINBAX helps reinforce the India-Vietnam defence and security cooperation. 

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 1, 2 and 3 

4. In the context of the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), consider the following statements:

1. VL-SRSAM is a ship-borne weapon system developed by the Defence Research & Development Organization(DRDO).
2. VL-SRSAM is meant for neutralising various aerial threats and sea-skimming targets.
3. VL-SRSAM has been designed based on the Astra missile and can strike a target at the range of 40 to 50 km.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only                

B. 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only                

D. 1, 2 and 3 

UPSC Previous Year Question

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

A. An Israeli radar system 

B. India’s indigenous anti – missile programmed 

C. An American anti -missile system 

D. A defense collaboration between Japan and South Korea 

Answers with Explanation

Questions from Crash Course

1. With reference to the ‘Pralay ballistic missile’ sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: 

1. The Pralay missile is a surface-to-surface indigenously developed by the DRDO.
2. It can hit targets from a distance of 1000 to 1400 km and is powered by a liquid fuel rocket motor.
3. It can destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command centres and airfields.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only                         

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only                          

D. 1, 2 and 3 

Answer: B

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct: Pralay is a Hindi word which means “apocalypse” or “to cause great destruction” or “damage”. 
• The Pralay missile project was sanctioned in 2015 and is a derivative of the Prahaar missile programme, which was first tested in 2011.
• Developed by the DRDO, the ‘Pralay’ ballistic missile is a canisterised tactical, surface-to-surface, and short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battle field use.

Statement 2 is correct: 

• It can hit targets from a distance of 150 to 500 km and is extremely difficult to intercept by enemy interceptor missiles. 
• Pralay is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor and is a high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead that weighs somewhere between 350 kg to 700 kg. 

Statement 3 is correct: 

• Precise targeting: The missile is designed to destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command centres and airfields.

Destruction capability: When a high-explosive warhead, like the one Pralay missile is equipped with, explodes, its pieces are thrown at a high speed which can inflict heavy damage.

2. Which one of the following is the best description of ‘The F/A-18 Super Hornet’, that was in the news recently? 

A. Multi-role attack helicopter 

B. Nuclear-powered submarine

C. Fighter Jet built for carrier operations

D. Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 

Answer: C 

Explanation

• The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is the world’s most advanced, combat proven, multi-role frontline naval fighter that offers unique and differentiated capabilities and full compatibility with Indian Navy carriers.
• It has been designed and built for carrier operations, and is fully compliant with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.
• F/A-18 will be able to operate on the deck, in the hangar and on the lifts of the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers.
• It will help further the interface between manned and unmanned systems in a carrier environment.
• The Super Hornet’s Precision Landing Mode software is specially designed to reduce pilot workload while landing on the Indian Navy’s Vikramaditya carrier by maintaining the proper glide slope and proper approach speeds.

Additional Information

• McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 (also known as F-18) is a twin engine, supersonic capable, multi-role combat jet which is a fighter and attack aircraft (thus the F/A acronym). 
• It was designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, both part of Boeing and Northrop Grunman respectively.
• The Hornet is also used by the Air forces from around the world for close air-support as well as for other roles
• The Hornet first saw combat action during the 1986 United States bombing of Libya and subsequently participated in the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War.

Questions from Test Series

3. Consider the following statements:

1. Exercise Udarashakti is a bilateral Naval exercise between India and Indonesia.
2. Exercise Milan 2022 was held in Visakhapatnam for the first time instead of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3. Exercise VINBAX helps reinforce the India-Vietnam defence and security cooperation. 

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 1, 2 and 3 

Answer: B

Explanation

• Option 1 is not correct: Exercise Udarashakti is a bilateral air force exercise between India and Malaysia. 
• The exercise will give a chance to both countries to share and learn best practices and an opportunity or both to discuss mutual combat capabilities.
• The exercise will witness different aerial combat exercises between the two air forces to augment security in the region and to help in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.

Exercise Milan 2022

• Option 2 is correct: 
• The exercise is being held in Visakhapatnam for the first time instead of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 
• The theme of the exercise is ‘Camaraderie Cohesion Collaboration’.
• The exercise will see participation from around 40 countries such as the US, Russia, Australia, UK, Japan, South Korea, France and Israel, Saudi Arabia among others.

Exercise Milan 2022

• MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise incepted by Indian Navy in 1995 at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
• Starting with the participation of only four countries, viz Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in the 1995 edition.
• The exercise has since transitioned leaps and bounds in terms of number of participants and complexity of exercises.
• 2020 edition of MILAN was postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.

Exercise Milan 2022

• Originally conceived in consonance with India’s ‘Look East Policy’.
• MILAN expanded in ensuing years with the GOI’s ‘Act East policy’ and Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
• So as to include participation from island nations in the Western IOR as also IOR littorals.

VINBAX 2022

• Option 3 is correct: The 3rd Edition of Vietnam India Bilateral Army Exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022” is scheduled to be conducted at Chandimandir,  Haryana. 
• Ex VINBAX is a bilateral military exercise between India and Vietnam.
• The exercise is commonly defined as the India and Vietnam army’s collaboration, which helps reinforce  the India-Vietnam Defence and Security cooperation and endorses India-Vietnam Relations.

Theme of the exercise: “Employment and deployment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team as part of United Nations Contingent for Peacekeeping Operations.

4. In the context of the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), consider the following statements:

1. VL-SRSAM is a ship-borne weapon system developed by the Defence Research & Development Organization(DRDO).
2. VL-SRSAM is meant for neutralising various aerial threats and sea-skimming targets.
3. VL-SRSAM has been designed based on the Astra missile and can strike a target at the range of 40 to 50 km.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

A. 1 and 2 only                

B. 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only                

D. 1, 2 and 3 

Answer: D

• Statement 1 is correct: VL-SRSAM is a ship-borne weapon system developed by the DRDO for deployment in the Indian Naval warships. 
• Statement 2 is correct: It is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.
• Sea skimming: Sea skimming is a technique of flying as low as possible (always below 50 metres from sea level). 
• This will make it hard to detect the flying object by radar, and infrared detection techniques in ships. 
• Further, it will reduce the probability of getting shot down while approaching a target.
• Statement 3 is correct: The missile has been designed based on the Astra missile, which is a Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile. 
• It can strike a target at the range of 40 to 50 km.
• VL-SRSAM is a canisterised based missile system. 
• Hence, it is stored and operated from specially designed  compartments. 
• The launch of this indigenous missile system will further strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Indian Navy.

UPSC Previous Year Question

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

A. An Israeli radar system 

B. India’s indigenous anti – missile programmed 

C. An American anti -missile system 

D. A defense collaboration between Japan and South Korea 

Answer : C

Explanation

• The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or simply abbreviated as THAAD, is a American missile defense 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. 
• US wanted to sell the anti-ballistic missile defence system named Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) to India, however, India’s defence needs required the S-400 system.
• S-400 can reportedly be assembled in 5 minutes through a mobile command vehicle making it a deadly force capable of being fired from any terrain.
• It has the capability to track radars and airborne threats with a range of 400 kms.
• On 17 January 2022, THAAD made its first operational interception, of an incoming medium-range ballistic missile in the UAE

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