1. An electro-optical target and background simulation system for generating synthetic images, said system comprising: a background database from which a simulated background is generated and which comprises data defining an image scene that comprises a pyramid whose boundary specifies the extent of the image scene, and wherein the pyramid is divided into a pyramid base defining a below horizon background surface and pyramid sides defining an above horizon background surface, and wherein each surface comprises triangular regions of uniform texture; a target database comprising a plurality of triangular object facets representative of simulated objects that are adapted to overlay the background generated from the background database; and processing means coupled to the background and target databases for processing data derived therefrom and for generating the synthetic images, and wherein the processing means comprises: radiance mapping means for providing a surface radiance map of the image scene; coordinate transformation means for processing data indicative of target and missile center-of-mass positions and orientations and for providing a three dimensional seeker image frame; shadowing means for determining shadowed areas on an object; hidden surface removal means that removes object facets that are obscured from the view of the seeker; perspective projection means for generating a two dimensional image plane by perspective three dimensional mapping from the background and target databases to a focal plane of the seeker; and optical convolution means for generating a two dimensional image on the focal plane of the seeker by convolving the projected image with an optical point spread function of the seeker to generate a radiance distribution on the focal plane of the seeker, which radiance distribution comprises the synthetic image.