Method for detecting and tracking targets in a series of images supplied by an optronic system, characterised in that the method comprises, for a current image: obtaining at least one spot included in said current image and, for each spot, a value representing a characteristic of said spot; classifying each spot according to said representative value in a first category when said representative value is higher than a first predefined threshold ( T 1) or in a second category when said representative value lies between the first predefined threshold and a second predefined threshold ( T 2) lower than the first predefined threshold, the spots in the second category having a higher probability of false alarm than the spots in the first category; for each existing spatiotemporal chain of spots of a first type, referred to as an existing track of the first type, which has been formed from spots detected in images in said series preceding the current image, allocating a spot in the first category to said existing track of the first type when at least one spot in the first category is compatible, in accordance with a predefined criterion, with said existing track of the first type and, when no spot in the first category is compatible with said existing track of the first type, allocating a spot in the second category when at least one spot in the second category is compatible, in accordance with the predefined criterion, with the existing track of the first type, an allocation of an existing track of the first type making it possible to pursue said existing track of the first type in the current image; creating a new track of the first type for each spot in the first category that has not been allocated to an existing track; classifying each spot in the second category that has not been allocated to an existing track of the first type in a third category if a number of pixels making up this spot is higher than a third predefined threshold and in a fourth category otherwise; for each existing spatiotemporal chain of spots of at least one second type, referred to as an existing track of the second type, which has been formed from spots detected in images in said series preceding the current image, allocating a spot in the third category to said existing track of the second type when at least one spot in the third category is compatible, in accordance with the predefined criterion, with said existing track of the second type and transforming said existing track of the second type into an existing track of the first type when the number of spots making up said track exceeds a predefined number of spots; creating a new track of the second type for each spot in the third category that has not been allocated to an existing track of the second type. obtaining at least one spot included in said current image and, for each spot, a value representing a characteristic of said spot; classifying each spot according to said representative value in a first category when said representative value is higher than a first predefined threshold ( T 1) or in a second category when said representative value lies between the first predefined threshold and a second predefined threshold ( T 2) lower than the first predefined threshold, the spots in the second category having a higher probability of false alarm than the spots in the first category; for each existing spatiotemporal chain of spots of a first type, referred to as an existing track of the first type, which has been formed from spots detected in images in said series preceding the current image, allocating a spot in the first category to said existing track of the first type when at least one spot in the first category is compatible, in accordance with a predefined criterion, with said existing track of the first type and, when no spot in the first category is compatible with said existing track of the first type, allocating a spot in the second category when at least one spot in the second category is compatible, in accordance with the predefined criterion, with the existing track of the first type, an allocation of an existing track of the first type making it possible to pursue said existing track of the first type in the current image; creating a new track of the first type for each spot in the first category that has not been allocated to an existing track; classifying each spot in the second category that has not been allocated to an existing track of the first type in a third category if a number of pixels making up this spot is higher than a third predefined threshold and in a fourth category otherwise; for each existing spatiotemporal chain of spots of at least one second type, referred to as an existing track of the second type, which has been formed from spots detected in images in said series preceding the current image, allocating a spot in the third category to said existing track of the second type when at least one spot in the third category is compatible, in accordance with the predefined criterion, with said existing track of the second type and transforming said existing track of the second type into an existing track of the first type when the number of spots making up said track exceeds a predefined number of spots; creating a new track of the second type for each spot in the third category that has not been allocated to an existing track of the second type.