Multitarget Tracking in Electronically Scanned Antenna Radar

Abstract

New-generation radars are equipped with electronically scanned antennas (ESA). Such solution results with new performance of radars like low probability of interception (LPI), multifunctionality, multitarget tracking etc. Such radars have also the possibilities to match adaptively his search algorithms respectively to changes in local radar targets density, as well as to object manoeuvres. Tracking algorithms send commands to an antenna beam control unit (CU) to search a particular direction, defined by azimuth and elevation, in which is necessary to update information about tracking targets. In this way, tracking algorithm is not only the user of information but influences the total operational resources of the radar. When we add to this the pseudorandom procedure of search particular part of air space, we arrive at a complicated condition for multitarget tracking algorithms. Well known, optimal algorithms, used in old radars with mechanically scanned antennas (MSA), with near constant sampling interval, cannot be implemented directly in new ones [1].