Solving the dynamic weapon target assignment problem by an improved multiobjective particle swarm optimization algorithm

Dynamic weapon target assignment (DWTA) is an effective method to solve the multi-stage battlefield fire optimization problem, which can reflect the actual combat scenario better than static weapon target assignment (SWTA). In this paper, a meaningful and effective DWTA model is established, which contains two practical and conflicting objectives, namely, maximizing combat benefits and minimizing weapon costs. Moreover, the model contains limited resource constraints, feasibility constraints and fire transfer constraints. The existence of multi‐objective and multi-constraint makes DWTA more complicated. To solve this problem, an improved multiobjective particle swarm optimization algorithm (IMOPSO) is proposed in this paper. Various learning strategies are adopted for the dominated and non‐dominated solutions of the algorithm, so that the algorithm can learn and evolve in a targeted manner. In order to solve the problem that the algorithm is easy to fall into local optimum, this paper proposes a search strategy based on simulated binary crossover (SBX) and polynomial mutation (PM), which enables elitist information to be shared among external archive and enhances the exploratory capabilities of IMOPSO. In addition, a dynamic archive maintenance strategy is applied to improve the diversity of non-dominated solutions. Finally, this algorithm is compared with three state‐of‐the‐art multiobjective optimization algorithms, including solving benchmark functions and DWTA model in this article. Experimental results show that IMOPSO has better convergence and distribution than the other three multiobjective optimization algorithms. IMOPSO has obvious advantages in solving multiobjective DWTA problems.