Abstract: The atmosphere and imaging height directly affect the infrared image quality of thermal imagers. Using the infrared image of an aircraft platform as the data source, infrared simulation images at different heights and atmospheric modes were studied, and a simulation calculation formula for the height of the thermal imager was derived. By selecting different atmospheric modes, examining MODTRAN and LOWTRAN atmospheric radiation transmission models for infrared image atmospheric correction at different heights, and analyzing and comparing the obtained simulation data, it is concluded that when the distance is less than 20 km, the simulation data of the two models in the same atmospheric mode are close and that the error is small, which is ideal. When the distance was greater than 20 km, the reference value of the LOWTRAN model simulation data was small, and the results of the MODTRAN model were closer to the actual situation and therefore more practical.