Abstract: Aiming at the photoelectric reconnaissance system working in the main operational direction, a method for obtaining the target data with low-cost photoelectric search equipment was proposed. The method of continuously scanning at a fixed angular velocity was utilized for the photodetector to capture the target at several times and to iterate and update the target azimuth and time data continuously, thus complete the calculation of the angular position and horizontal distance of the incoming target relative to the reconnaissance device.Furthermore, we deduced the mathematical model of target data.Through designing the simulation software, the experimental procedure can calculate the azimuth angle of target after the target enters into the observation boundary of reconnaissance equipment, and the information of target at different time azimuths, pitch angles and horizontal distances can be obtained.It can meet the tracking requirements for targets with a speed of no more than 500 m/s and a height of no more than 5 km in a state where the reconnaissance distance is not less than 20 km, realizes the simulation verification of the optical reconnaissance equipment, and provides reliable data for subsequent fire control calculations.