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Daily Current Affairs – 7 March 2026 | The Hindu Analysis for UPSC: Minuteman III Missile, Gravity Bombs, Mark-48 Torpedo & Finland

 

UPSC Current Affairs Notes



The Hindu Analysis – 7 March 2026

1. Minuteman III Missile (USA)

Background

  • The Minuteman III (LGM-30G) is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed and operated by the United States Air Force.

  • It forms a crucial component of the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy.

  • First deployed in 1970 during the Cold War as part of the strategic competition between the USA and the Soviet Union.

  • It is a land-based nuclear missile system, stored in underground silos across several US states.

Key Features of Minuteman III

  • Type: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

  • Launch Platform: Underground silo-based launch system

  • Developer: Douglas Aircraft Company (later part of Boeing)

  • Range: Approximately 9,600 km – 13,000 km

  • Speed: Around Mach 23 (about 23 times the speed of sound)

  • Payload: Capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads

  • Guidance: Inertial guidance system

Why is it called a “Doomsday Missile”?

  • Because it can carry nuclear warheads capable of mass destruction.

  • Designed primarily for strategic nuclear deterrence.

  • In case of nuclear conflict, such missiles can strike targets across continents.

What is an ICBM?

Definition

An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is a long-range missile designed to deliver nuclear weapons across continents.

Key Characteristics

  • Range greater than 5,500 km

  • Travels through space in a ballistic trajectory

  • Re-enters the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds

  • Typically used for strategic nuclear deterrence

Major ICBM Countries

  • United States

  • Russia

  • China

  • India

  • North Korea

MIRV Technology

Full Form

Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle

Meaning

  • A technology where one missile carries multiple nuclear warheads.

  • Each warhead can be directed to different targets independently.

Importance

  • Allows a single missile to destroy multiple targets simultaneously.

  • Makes missile defence systems less effective, as multiple warheads approach at once.

Example

  • Minuteman III was the first US missile equipped with MIRV capability.

Future Replacement

  • The US plans to replace Minuteman III with the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) system.

  • Expected deployment around 2029.

2. Nuclear Triad

Definition

A nuclear triad refers to a country's ability to deliver nuclear weapons from three different platforms.

Three Components

  1. Land-Based Missiles

    • Example: ICBMs such as Minuteman III

  2. Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)

    • Launched from nuclear submarines

    • Example: Trident missile

  3. Strategic Bombers

    • Aircraft capable of dropping nuclear bombs

    • Example: B-52 bomber

Importance of Nuclear Triad

  • Ensures second-strike capability.

  • Makes a country's nuclear arsenal survivable during enemy attack.

  • Acts as a strong deterrence mechanism.

Countries with Nuclear Triad

  • United States

  • Russia

  • China

  • India

  • France

3. Gravity Bombs

Definition

A gravity bomb is a bomb that is dropped from an aircraft and falls freely under the influence of gravity until it hits the target.

Alternate Name

  • Free-Fall Bomb

Characteristics of Gravity Bombs

  • No propulsion system.

  • Simply released from an aircraft or bomber.

  • Relies on gravity for descent.

  • Historically less accurate, but modern upgrades have improved precision.

Modern Upgrade – JDAM

Full Form

Joint Direct Attack Munition

Function

  • Converts unguided bombs into precision-guided bombs.

Technology Used

  • GPS guidance system

  • Inertial navigation system

Advantage

  • Increases accuracy

  • Allows bombs to hit specific targets precisely

Types of US Conventional Gravity Bombs

MK-82

  • Weight: ~500 pounds

  • Used for soft targets

  • Example: vehicles, radar stations

MK-83

  • Weight: ~1000 pounds

  • Used for medium-sized structures

MK-84

  • Weight: ~2000 pounds

  • Capable of destroying hardened structures and bunkers

Nuclear Gravity Bombs

B61

  • Tactical nuclear bomb

  • Adjustable explosive yield

B83

  • High-yield nuclear bomb

Aircraft Used to Deliver Gravity Bombs

  • F-15E Strike Eagle

  • F-35 Stealth Fighter

  • B-52 Stratofortress Bomber

4. Mark-48 Torpedo

Definition

  • A torpedo is a self-propelled underwater missile designed to destroy ships or submarines.

  • The Mark-48 torpedo is the primary submarine-launched torpedo used by the United States Navy.

Key Features

  • Type: Heavyweight torpedo

  • Launch Platform: Submarines

  • Weight: Around 1700 kg

  • Explosive: Approximately 500 pounds of TNT equivalent

  • Guidance: Sonar-based guidance system

Working Mechanism

  1. Torpedo is launched from a submarine.

  2. It travels underwater using propulsion system.

  3. Uses sonar signals to track enemy ships.

  4. Explodes beneath the ship’s hull.

  5. The explosion breaks the keel of the ship, causing it to sink.

5. Naval Warfare – Prize Ship

Definition

A Prize Ship refers to:

  • A ship captured during naval warfare, or

  • A ship destroyed by enemy forces in wartime

Importance

  • Considered a legitimate military target during naval conflict.

  • Often used to refer to enemy warships captured or destroyed.

6. Maritime Conflict and International Law

UNCLOS

Full Form

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Purpose

  • Governs maritime boundaries

  • Regulates use of ocean resources

  • Establishes rights and responsibilities of nations at sea

Maritime Zones

Territorial Sea

  • Extends 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline

  • Country has full sovereignty

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

  • Extends 200 nautical miles from the coast

  • Country has rights to exploit natural resources

Important Fact

  • The United States has not ratified UNCLOS.

7. UN Charter Provisions Related to War

Article 2(4)

  • Prohibits use of force against another state.

  • States must respect territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Article 51

  • Allows a country to exercise self-defence if attacked.

  • A nation may take military action to protect itself.

8. United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Structure

  • Total Members: 15

  • 5 Permanent Members (P5)

  • 10 Non-Permanent Members

Permanent Members (P5)

  • United States

  • Russia

  • China

  • United Kingdom

  • France

Veto Power

  • Each permanent member has veto power.

  • Any one of them can block a resolution.

9. Metabolic Diseases

Definition

Metabolic diseases are disorders that affect the body's metabolism, which is the process of converting food into energy.

Global Burden of Disease Study

Key Facts

  • Global research study analysing health data worldwide.

  • Current analysis covers 1990–2023 data.

  • Found India and China have the highest metabolic disease burden in Asia-Pacific.

Major Metabolic Diseases

  • Type-2 Diabetes

  • Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

  • Obesity

  • High LDL Cholesterol

  • Fatty Liver Disease (MSLD)

Major Causes

  • Sedentary lifestyle

  • Urbanization

  • Consumption of processed foods

  • Lack of physical activity

  • Poor dietary habits

DALY Indicator

Full Form

Disability Adjusted Life Years

Meaning

  • Measures overall disease burden in a population.

Includes

  • Years lost due to premature death

  • Years lived with disability

10. Finland (Places in News)

Location

  • Country located in Northern Europe.

  • Part of the Nordic region.

Bordering Countries

Finland shares land borders with:

  • Russia

  • Sweden

  • Norway

Surrounding Water Bodies

  • Baltic Sea

  • Gulf of Finland

  • Gulf of Bothnia

Capital

  • Helsinki

International Membership

  • European Union (EU)

  • NATO (Joined in 2023)

Geographical Features

Land of Lakes

  • Finland is often called the “Land of Lakes”.

  • It has over 56,000 major lakes.

  • Including smaller lakes, the number exceeds 100,000 lakes.

Largest Lake

  • Lake Saimaa

Natural Resources

Finland has deposits of:

  • Copper

  • Iron ore

  • Nickel

  • Cobalt

  • Chromium

Quick Prelims Revision Table

TopicKey Point
Minuteman IIIUS Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
MIRVMultiple warheads in one missile
Gravity BombFree-fall bomb dropped from aircraft
JDAMGPS kit converting bombs to precision weapons
Mark-48US submarine torpedo
Prize ShipCaptured/destroyed enemy ship
UNCLOSGlobal maritime law treaty
Article 51Self-defence in international law
Metabolic DiseaseDiabetes, obesity, hypertension
FinlandLand of lakes

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