abstract:In nuclear strategy, a second-strike capability is a country's assured ability to respond to a nuclear attack with powerful nuclear retaliation against the attacker. To have such an ability (and to convince an opponent of its viability) is considered vital in nuclear deterrence, as otherwise the other side might be tempted to try to win a nuclear war in one massive first strike against its opponent's own nuclear forces.
Nevertheless, such patents are now handed out regularly, creating an arms race amongst tech companies to have a second-strike capability in the event their own innovations are challenged.