Comparison on Track Formation Range between TWS and Adaptive Tracking Using Markov Chain Analysis in a Radar System

Compared with the TWS(Track While Scan) tracking that uses scan-to-scan correlation at search illuminations for targets track, a phased array radar can use adaptive tracking which assigns additional track illuminations and the track formation range can be improved as a result. In this paper, an adaptive tracking, the search and track illuminations of a target are synchronized such that the extra illuminations are evenly distributed between the search illuminations, is proposed. Markov chain and track formation range for the proposed adaptive tracking are shown with them for the conventional TWS. The simulation result shows that the proposed adaptive tracking has improved track formation range by 27.6 % compared with the conventional TWS tracking under same track confirmation criterion.