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

The correct option is: A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

Explanation:

The Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is a warhead delivery system developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1960s.

Unlike standard Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which follow a high, predictable parabolic trajectory, a FOBS works by launching a missile into a low Earth orbit (LEO). Specifically, the missile is placed into a stable, temporary orbit around the Earth. Before completing a full revolution, the missile fires a retro-rocket to deorbit (fractional orbit) and strike its designated target on the Earth's surface.

This system was designed to bypass early warning radar systems (such as the US BMEWS) by approaching the target from direction routes (like the South Pole) that were not monitored as heavily as the direct polar routes used by traditional ICBMs.