Specification, Verification, and Calibration of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Antennas

Abstract

Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA's) have gained over the last years an increasing interest and utilization, for both space and ground applications. On board satellites, such antennas are often adopted in High-Throughput communications systems and in passive or active remote sensing systems (e.g., Synthetic Aperture Radars, SAR's). On ground, active antennas are widely used for mobile, airborne and maritime satellite communications, as well as in radar systems and 4G/5G cellular communications systems (Multiple Input Multiple Output, MIMO, antennas). The specification of Active Antenna Systems and its verification through testing is no longer a controversial issue, but many problems still need to be solved, especially at higher frequencies (mmWaves) and facing relatively large-scale productions, e.g., as required for mega satellite constellations.