Abstract: Target infrared simulation model is the key part of the real-time infrared scene simulation system. In order to convenient and reliable build the infrared simulation model, a general simulation method of target infrared characteristics combined with CAD and the finite element analysis was proposed. Firstly, theoretical analysis was researched for the infrared properties of the target. Then, the target geometric model was built by SolidWorks. The model was imported to ANSYS for finite element thermal analysis. After thermal analysis the node temperature cloud data and the node topology structure of target were calculated by FEA thermal analysis. The three-dimensional distribution of infrared radiation field of target was reconstructed in the simulation platform system, and the typical infrared radiation characteristics of target simulation results were obtained. Finally, compared with measured data, the analysis results show that the simulation model can be a good approximation to the real measured data, which shows the infrared radiation characteristics of target can be effective emulated.