1. countervalue - Adjective
2. countervalue - Verb
(military) To target an opponent's assets which are of value but not actually a military threat, such as cities and civilian populations.
To make a counter estimate of something's value.
countervalue (not comparable)
(military) Targeting an opponent's assets which are of value but not actually a military threat, such as cities and civilian populations.
Antonym: counterforce
A counterforce weapon requires a much more accurate warhead than a countervalue weapon, as it must be guaranteed to detonate very close to its target, which drastically increases relative costs. Source: Internet
Early ICBMs and bombers were relatively inaccurate, which led to the concept of countervalue strikes — attacks directly on the enemy population, which would theoretically lead to a collapse of the enemy's will to fight. Source: Internet
Limited countervalue strikes Some NUTS theorists hold that a mutually assured destruction -type deterrent is not credible in cases of a small attack, such as one carried out on a single city, as it is suicidal. Source: Internet