Enhanced navigation and displays from passive terrain referenced avionics

An integrated all-weather mission system has been evolved that enhances the capability for covert high-speed low-level penetration at night and in adverse weather conditions. The system, called PENETRATE, is a passive enhanced-navigation and terrain-referenced avionics system that uses a single mass digital data store housing a three-dimensional model of the terrain including cultural details and tactical intelligence information. The system, is designed to provide aircrew with extremely accurate navigation coupled with head-up and head-down display options and enhancements which can be tailored to the outside visibility. The design philosophy and architecture of this integrated convert mission system together with details of the PENETRATE demonstration system are discussed