Which of the following is NOT a system used to detect or track targets?

• A. UAS
• B. Mortars
• C. Space-based systems
• D. Forward observers

Answer: (B)

Detecting and tracking targets comes from sensors and observers that identify where a target is and follow it over time. Unmanned aerial systems carry cameras and sensors that can see and monitor targets; space-based systems (satellites) provide broad reconnaissance and tracking data; forward observers on the ground observe the battlefield and relay targeting information to fire support. Mortars, by contrast, are indirect-fire weapons. Their job is to deliver explosive rounds onto a target once it has been located and designated by those detection/tracking assets or observers. They do not themselves detect or track targets, so they are the one that does not fit as a system used to detect or track targets.