Target acquisition is the detection and identification of the location of a target in sufficient detail to permit the effective employment of lethal and non-lethal means. The term is used for a broad area of applications.
A "target" here is an entity or object considered for possible engagement or other action (see Targeting). Targets include a wide array of resources that an enemy commander can use to conduct operations including mobile and stationary units, forces, equipment, capabilities, facilities, persons and functions. It may comprise target acquisition,[1] Joint Targeting[2] or Information Operations.[3]
Technically target acquisition may just denote the process of a weapon system to decide which object to lock on to, as opposed to surveillance on one and target tracking on the other side; for example in an anti-aircraft system.
- ^ "Field Manual 6-121 - Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Field Artillery Target Acquisition". Enlisted.Info. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "Joint Fires and Targeting Handbook" (PDF). 2012-09-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ "Field Manual (FM) 3-13: Information Operations: Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures". www.iwar.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-04.