During joint fires, which indirect fire system works alongside mortars?

• A. Artillery guns
• B. Small arms
• C. Armor vehicles
• D. Unmanned drones

Answer: (A)

Joint fires rely on coordinating indirect-fire assets to cover targets with overlapping ranges and munitions. Mortars provide rapid, close-in, high-angle fire that can respond quickly to near targets, while artillery guns deliver heavier rounds at longer ranges to reach targets beyond the mortar’s reach. This combination creates a layered, mutually supporting fires plan that increases overall battlefield effect. The other options are not indirect-fire systems in this context: small arms and armor are direct-fire weapons, and unmanned drones are primarily observation or precision-attack assets, not traditional indirect fire used alongside mortars.