A point target is:
# A
target of such
small dimension that it requires the accurate placement of
ordnance in order to neutralize or destroy it.
# A nuclear target in which the ratio of radius of damage to target radius is equal to or greater than 5.
# A radar target that is small compared with the pulse volume, which is the cross-sectional area of the radar beam multiplied by half the length of the radar pulse.
Meteorology Glossary, American Meteorological Society
/ref>
Targets such as city building
A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fu ...
s, and targets in the midst of many non-targets are considered to be point targets. When attacking point targets, weapons with only the necessary amount of spread and power are employed.
Point targets are often located near other buildings which contain civilian
Civilians under international humanitarian law are "persons who are not members of the armed forces" and they are not " combatants if they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war". It is slightly different from a non-combatant ...
s and other innocents, therefore guided munition
A precision-guided munition (PGM, smart weapon, smart munition, smart bomb) is a guided munition intended to precisely hit a specific target, to minimize collateral damage and increase lethality against intended targets. During the First Gulf ...
s are used to take out only the intended target. A strike executing in this manner is often referred to as a surgical strike.
Citations and notes
References
Targeting (warfare)
Military terminology
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