UPSC Prelims 2022·GS1·science-and-technology·defence

Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. AA hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
  2. BA spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
  3. CA missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.Correct
  4. DA spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Explanation

The "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" (FOBS) was a Cold War-era concept developed by the Soviet Union. It involved launching a nuclear warhead into a low Earth orbit (not a full orbit, but a 'fractional' one) from which it could be de-orbited at any point along its trajectory to strike a target. The key characteristic was its ability to approach a target from any direction, making it harder to detect and defend against compared to traditional Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) which follow predictable trajectories. The system would only complete a partial orbit before de-orbiting its payload for impact.
science-and-technology: Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often ta
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