UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Missile interceptors in U.S.-Iran war

Question 1

With reference to missile-defence systems employed during the 2025-26 U.S.-Iran conflict, consider the following pairings of system and developer/prime contractor:
1. THAAD — Lockheed Martin
2. Iron Dome — Rafael Advanced Defense Systems / Israel Aerospace Industries
3. Patriot PAC-3 — Raytheon
4. Cheongung-II (KM-SAM Block II) — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan
Which of the above are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 2

In the context of the 2025-26 U.S.-Iran conflict, the term 'loitering munition' (commonly referred to as a 'suicide drone' such as the Iranian Shahed series) is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

An unmanned aerial vehicle carrying an integrated warhead that hovers/circles over a target area before crashing into and destroying the target

Answer

A ballistic missile that follows a depressed trajectory and loiters in the exo-atmosphere before re-entry

Answer

A cruise missile launched from a high-altitude bomber that maintains a holding pattern until a target of opportunity is designated

Answer

A hypersonic glide vehicle that manoeuvres during terminal descent to evade interceptors

Question 3

Following the depletion of THAAD interceptor stocks during the June 2025 '12-Day War' with Iran, the additional ~US$2 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin to replenish the U.S. high-altitude interceptor inventory was authorised by which one of the following U.S. agencies?

Accepted Answer

Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Answer

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Answer

United States Space Force (USSF)

Answer

United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)

Question 4

The UAE, whose air-defence network was used to intercept Iranian missiles in March 2026, had originally contracted to acquire 10 batteries of South Korea's Cheongung-II (KM-SAM Block II) air-defence system under an agreement signed in:

Accepted Answer

January 2022

Answer

November 2017

Answer

August 2023

Answer

April 2025

Question 5

According to post-conflict assessments of the June 2025 '12-Day War' between Iran and the U.S.-Israel coalition, approximately how many THAAD interceptors did the United States fire — a figure equal to about a quarter of the total THAAD inventory ever procured by the Pentagon?

Accepted Answer

About 150

Answer

About 30

Answer

About 80

Answer

About 400

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Missile interceptors in U.S.-Iran war

Q2. In the context of the 2025-26 U.S.-Iran conflict, the term 'loitering munition' (commonly referred to as a 'suicide drone' such as the Iranian Shahed series) is best defined as:

Q3. Following the depletion of THAAD interceptor stocks during the June 2025 '12-Day War' with Iran, the additional ~US$2 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin to replenish the U.S. high-altitude interceptor inventory was authorised by which one of the following U.S. agencies?

Q4. The UAE, whose air-defence network was used to intercept Iranian missiles in March 2026, had originally contracted to acquire 10 batteries of South Korea's Cheongung-II (KM-SAM Block II) air-defence system under an agreement signed in:

Q5. According to post-conflict assessments of the June 2025 '12-Day War' between Iran and the U.S.-Israel coalition, approximately how many THAAD interceptors did the United States fire — a figure equal to about a quarter of the total THAAD inventory ever procured by the Pentagon?