AFDD 2-1.9, page 14

4 greatly affect the type and number of weapons, the weapon systems, and the methods or tactics employed against the target. › Location. › Shape. › Size or area covered. › Appearance (outward form and features, including color). › Number and nature of elements. › Dispersion or concentration of elements. › Reflectivity (to heat, light, sound, radar energy, etc). › Structural composition. › Degree of hardening. › Electromagnetic radiation (e.g., radar and radio transmissions). Environmental Characteristics. These are features that describe the effect of the environment on the target and its surroundings. These characteristics may also affect the types and numbers of weapons, weapon systems, and the methods used to attack them. › Atmospheric conditions affecting the target (temperature, visibility, etc). › Terrain features (land form, vegetation, soil, elevation, etc). › Degree of concealment, camouflage, and countermeasures. › Physical relationships (such as proximity to noncombatants or friendly forces, etc.). › Dependencies (raw materials, personnel, energy, water, command/control, etc.). Functional Characteristics. These are features that describe what the target does and how it does it. They describe the target’s function within the enemy system, how the target or system operates, its level of activity, the status of its functionality, and, in some cases, its importance to the enemy. Functional characteristics are often hard to discern, because they most often cannot be directly observed. Reaching plausible conclusions can often entail speculation and much deductive and inductive reasoning. › Target’s normal or reported activity. › Target status (state or condition at a given point in time [e.g., “operational,” “inoperative”]). › Degree, proportion, or percentage of functionality (e.g., “function 50% degraded”). › Materials the target requires in order to perform its function(s).