Word or phrase for premeditated act of self defense
Solution 1:
This is normally called a pre-emptive strike.
adjective
serving or intended to pre-empt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy:
a pre-emptive strike
Solution 2:
The phrase anticipatory self-defense has been used in international law since the 1837 Caroline Affair between the United States and Britian:
This incident has been used to establish the principle of "anticipatory self-defense" in international politics, which holds that it may be justified only in cases in which the "necessity of that self-defense is instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation".
Solution 3:
The current term for this kind of anticipatory strike is proactive.