An efficient scheduling algorithm for a multifunction radar

The new generation of air defence frigates has to be equipped with a high performance sensor suite to cope with the threat in future maritime scenarios. A multifunction radar (MFR) with a single rotating or multiple fixed phased array antennas is often the key element in this sensor suite because it can perform not only surveillance functions but also missile support. Since the MFR must be able to execute multiple functions concurrently, a scheduling mechanism is required that allocates the time and energy resources of the MFR to the radar functions in such a way that the overall performance of the sensor suite is optimized. This paper describes an efficient scheduling algorithm that is able to schedule the dwell requests of each function on the basis of their priority and transmission window. Some results are shown of the scheduling algorithm in a typical scenario in which a number of seaskimmers is engaged by semi-active surface-to-air missiles.