An antenna system and method use an electronically-scanned antenna array and a hybrid beam former architecture. The antenna system includes a matrix of antenna elements and a feeder network. The feeder network includes a first layer including phase shifters. Each of the phase shifters is for a respective antenna element of the antenna elements. The feeder network also includes a second layer and a third layer. Each of the first set of the first time delay units in the second layer is for a respective first subarray of the first subarrays of the antenna elements. Each of the second set of the second time delay units in the third layer is for a respective second subarray of the second subarrays of the first subarrays.

A phased array antenna (1) includes: a plurality of antenna elements (11a to 11d); a plurality of signal paths (R11 and R12) that are connected to each of the antenna elements; a storage unit (M) configured to store a set values of at least one of amplitudes or phases of a signal passed through at least one predefined reference path among the plurality of signal paths with regard to at least one of the antenna elements, and an amplitude and phase control unit (22 or 26) configured to control at least one of the amplitude or the phase of the signal passed through the reference path connected to the antenna element by using the set value stored in the storage unit, and configured to control amplitude or phase of signal passed through the signal path other than the reference path.

There is set forth herein, in one embodiment, receiving an aggregate scanning signal stream from a set of scanning antennas configured in a scanning configuration; receiving aggregate communication signal streams from first to Nth sets of communication antennas configured in respective communication configurations; identifying an interfering signal stream within the aggregate scanning signal stream and determining a direction associated to such interfering signal stream, wherein the identifying and determining are performed with use of processing of the aggregate scanning signal streams received from the scanning antennas configured in a scanning configuration; and returning an action decision responsively to the identifying and the determining.

A phased array antenna system includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) tile sub-arrays. Each RF tile sub-array includes a multiplicity of RF elements, a tile control integrated circuit, a multiplicity of RF integrated circuits and a configuration storage device. The configuration storage device stores data including calibration and configuration information that is unique to the RF tile sub-array and the tile control integrated circuit. The multiplicity of RF integrated circuits, the multiplicity of RF elements, and the configuration storage device are disposed on a single associated RF tile sub-array. The system also includes an antenna controller configured to process data for steering or tracking one or more RF beams by the multiplicity of RF elements. The calibration and configuration information that is unique to the RF tile sub-array is downloaded from the configuration storage device through the tile control integrated circuit to an RF element compensation table.

A planar antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements and transmits and receives a radio wave to and from a target. An attitude controller is attached to the planar antenna and controls an attitude of the planar antenna mechanically. An antenna controller controls the attitude controller such that the planar antenna points in a predetermined direction with respect to the target. A scan controller controls beam scanning performed by the planar antenna and adjusts an excitation phase of each of the antenna elements in accordance with a signal level of a reception signal generated from a radio wave received from the target during performance of the beam scanning, thereby directing a beam from the planar antenna toward the target. The scan controller limits a range of the beam scanning to a range within which no grating lobe occurs.

A dual or quad aperture radar array switches between states in between radiation cycles to acquire both sum and difference beams. The beams are then processed together to produce a central lobe enhanced beam and a side lobe enhanced beam via difference computations. During interleaved cycles, beams may be processed by Taylor weighting, split Taylor weighting, or Bayliss weighting. Multiple sets of switching cycles may be processed together to refine results.

A system may include an optical phased array, a photodiode array, and a radiofrequency (RF) antenna element array. The optical phased array may be configured to: receive a laser signal from a signal laser; and output an optical beam. Each photodiode may be configured to: receive at least a portion of the optical beam and at least a portion of an optical plane wave beam, wherein the optical plane wave beam is formed based at least on a local oscillator (LO) laser that outputs a laser beam having a different wavelength from the signal laser; and output an electronic signal based on the at least the portion of the optical beam and the at least a portion of the optical plane wave beam. The RF antenna element array may be configured to output an RF beam based on received electronic signals from the photodiode array.

A system and method for a multi-beam multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operation receives radar commands from individual aircraft systems and segments a single AESA fixed panel into a plurality of subarrays to carry out each individual function commanded by the individual aircraft system. Dependent on aircraft status and phase of flight, the subarrays are sized based on desired radar function at the specific phase of flight and specific threat associated with the phase. The system dynamically shifts the subarray size, beam characteristics, power settings, and function to enable multiple function of a cost effective single AESA panel.

A mode S Interrogation Side Lobe Suppression System (ISLS) for an electronically scanned interrogator is described. One aspect introduces the 90° phase offset between the main and control beams thereby enabling the full power capability of the TRU to be effectively utilized and the effective beamwidth in Mode S to be sharply defined. The system allows the transmission of the simultaneous ISLS pulse of a Mode S all-call interrogation to be transmitted using the same array as is used by the main beam.

A hybrid antenna having an active array on a tracking pedestal is configured to facilitate simultaneous multibeam operation with first and second satellites. The hybrid antenna system includes a pedestal having a base and a support pivotally mounted with respect to the base about a first axis, a one-dimensional active electronically scanned array (AESA) configured to scan along a scanning plane and rotatably mounted on the support about a skew axis, and a skew positioner configured to rotate the AESA about the skew axis for aligning the scanning plane with the first and second satellites to facilitate the simultaneous multibeam operation with the first and second satellites. A method of using the hybrid antenna having an active array on a tracking pedestal is also disclosed.