Cognitive adaptive waveform technique for HF skywave radar

In High-Frequency (HF) Over The Horizon (OTH) radar, the space-time variation of the ionospheric channel, external noise as well as transmission channel limitations, is one of the most critical and challenging aspects of the system design and control. Waveforms parameters must be adaptively tuned to the actual external conditions. The purpose of this paper is to define and analyse a technique to set the waveform parameters in a cognitive way as a function of the operating conditions. Measurements of the external ionospheric channel and noise as well as a priori knowledge of the national frequency allocation plan will be the support of the waveform adaptive algorithm.