AbstractIn this paper, a novel Adaptive Parameter Strategy Differential Evolution (APSDE) algorithm is proposed to overcome the parameters dependence and avoid local optima. The Parameter Update Mechanism (PUM), which has three different strategies, is used to reduce the dependence on parameters of DE. The Adaptive Proportion Adjustment Mechanism (APAM) is used to balance the proportion of PUM strategies in different development terms of exploitation and exploration, and the Random Restart Mechanism (RRM) is used to improve population diversity when exploitation is in stagnation. The proposed algorithm is verified in the CEC2018 test functions and the results show that APSDE has good abilities of exploitation, exploration, convergence, and stability. Secondly, Midcourse Guidance Maneuver Decision-making (MGMD) in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air combat is studied and transformed into a single objective variational optimization problem, a MGMD system based on APSDE is established. Finally, the simulation of MGMD is carried out. The APSDE ranks first in the typical MGMD scenario experiment. In the adaptive Midcourse guidance confrontation, the winning rate of APSDE is 54%, and the statistical results show that the APSDE has an excellent MGMD ability.