A new algorithm model for target location was proposed to increase the detecting capability of infrared panoramic searching systems and a location error formula was also deduced.In the new algorithm model,the effects of the distance a target,measurement errors of azimuth and elevation and the measurement errors of longitude and latitude for receivers on the detection precision of target location were investigated.The formulae for the 3D coordinate and distance of the target were obtained by a matrix analytical method.The location errors of target in four different methods including three-station method,square-station method,rhombic-station method and five-station method were analyzed and compared using the Geometrical Dilution of Precision (GDOP) graphs.Analyzed results show that the GDOP distributing order of five-station is similar to that of the square-station,but the error values are higher than that of the square-station. The error distribution of rhombic-station is different from that of the square-station,and the location behavior is worse than that of the square station.The results show that the location error of square station is the smallest among the four different models mentioned above.