In a joint targeting framework, which assets are those whose loss would seriously degrade enemy functions and are required by enemy command and control to complete a mission?

• A. High Value Target (HVT)
• B. High Payoff Target (HPT)
• C. Time Sensitive Target (TST)
• D. High Value Individual (HVI)

Answer: (A)

In joint targeting, High Value Targets are assets that the enemy relies on to conduct operations. Their loss would seriously degrade the enemy’s functions and, crucially, they are required by the enemy’s command and control to complete a mission. This means these assets are central to planning, directing, coordinating, and executing operations—removing or disabling them disrupts the enemy’s ability to carry out its objectives.

These targets aren’t limited to people; they can be facilities, systems, or equipment essential to C2 and operational capability. The idea is that hitting a High Value Target undermines the enemy’s ability to function as a cohesive force.

High Payoff Targets describe targets whose destruction would provide the greatest advantage to the attacker, often in terms of strategic impact, but they aren’t defined specifically by the enemy’s dependence on C2 to complete a mission. Time Sensitive Targets are constrained by a narrow eruption window, not by the target’s role in the enemy’s C2. High Value Individuals refer to particular people rather than the asset’s importance to enemy operations.