What is "first strike"

n. the initial use of nuclear weapons to attack a country that also has nuclear weapons; considered feasible only when the attacker can destroy the other country's ability to retaliate; "the Pakistani president promised no first strike against India"

In nuclear strategy, first strike capability is a country's ability to defeat another nuclear power by destroying its arsenal to the point where the attacking country can survive the weakened retaliation.

First strike may also refer to:

• "First Strike" (Stargate Atlantis), an episode of the TV series Stargate Atlantis
• First Strike (1979 film), a United States Air Force documentary
• Police Story 4: First Strike, AKA Jackie Chan's First Strike, a 1995 action movie
• Halo: First Strike, a 2003 novel written by Eric Nylund. It is based on the video game series
• First Strike Coins, the first coins struck from a new set of dies
• First Strike (comics), a fictional team of superheroes

"First Strike" is the 60th episode and the third season finale of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis. The episode originally aired in Canada on February 5, 2007 on The Movie Network, and subsequently aired March 14 on Sky One in the United Kingdom, and June 22 on the United States Sci Fi Channel. It was written by executive producer Martin Gero, and directed by Martin Wood. The episode is the first of a three-parter, in which the new Earth ship Apollo arrives at Atlantis to conduct a preemptive strike against the Asurans before they can launch a fleet to attack Earth.

"First Strike" was a beginning to a new direction for the series. It aired alongside " Unending", the series finale of Stargate SG-1. At the time it was considered the best episode the producers have done, and featured one of the longest visual effects sequences in the series. The episode earned Stargate Atlantis the strongest ratings since the mid-season hiatus, and was generally well received.

First Strike is a fictional government funded team of superheroes published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #3 (November 2006), and were created by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Daniel Acuña. The team is largely an allegory for the perils of "unrestricted state power and authority."

First Strike is a 1979 film created by KRON-TV and Chronicle Publishing Company under the broadcast division name "Chronicle Broadcasting Company" in partnership with the United States Department of Defense and the RAND Corporation that discusses the United States armed forces strategy for dealing with nuclear warfare. The film became far better known when various clips were edited into the 1983 TV film The Day After.