According to the theory, a credible counterforce capability requires missiles accurate enough and in quantities large enough that the attacker has enough fire power in reserve to deter a second strike by threatening a third.

• 根据这种理论，具有进攻军事力量的可靠能力，就需要有足够准确、数量充分的导弹，以便进攻的一方还保持了随时可以发动第三次打击的足够的备用火力以遏制对方的第二次打击。