Minimum altitude visibility diagram —MAVD

Abstract

An essential part of almost all air-defense computer simulation models is the visibility subroutine. This subroutine performs the necessary computations and provides the data required to determine whether enemy aircraft or missiles may be detected by stationary ground-based air-defense system sensors- that is, whether they are within sensor range and whether their visibility is obstructed by terrain irregularities and/or the curvature of the earth. This paper presents a new approach to the visibility subroutine, entitled MAVD (Minimum Altitude Visibi Zi ty Diagram). MAVD provides a visibility subroutine which could be incorporated into existing models relatively easily. The authors believe that it would result in a more realistic simulation and provide a significant reduction in computer time, in comparison with other simulation methods with which the authors are familiar.