The kill chain is the sequence used to move from detecting a target to deciding, authorizing, and carrying out an engagement. In military systems, it includes sensing, identification, tracking, command approval, and weapon release. Each step creates a control point where information can be checked, a human can intervene, or the action can be stopped.
In cyber security, the term is also used for the stages of an attack or defense workflow. Attackers try to accelerate or automate the chain so a target is found and acted on before defenders react. Defenders study the chain to break it with monitoring, authentication, segmentation, and manual review. It matters because false data, spoofing, jamming, or operator confusion can push a system into the wrong decision, especially when software helps select or cue a target. Keeping meaningful human control in the kill chain is a key safety and security requirement.