In April , Viasat sent a team on a flight over Europe in a Cessna Citation business jet. The goal? To demonstrate just how powerful phased array antenna technology could be in powering SATCOM, even in moving aircraft and traditionally disconnected areas.

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The phased array antenna powering the initiative had been developed in partnership between Viasat and the European Space Agency (ESA), a tool that could connect to multi-orbit satellites to support new levels of satellite connectivity.

In flight, the team did its best to test the system’s capabilities—they ran multiple devices, streamed video from Netflix, conducted Zoom and FaceTime calls, and more. The connectivity never faltered.

According to one team member on the flight: “The experience was like being at home. You could stream YouTube or Netflix on your device, and that’s what people are looking for on their flights.”

The antenna was working as expected, and its potential extended well beyond in-flight entertainment.

In the time since that groundbreaking flight, phased array antennas have remained a key part of Viasat’s satellite technology development and supporting near-global broadband coverage.

In this article, we’ll explore exactly what’s so special about phased array antennas and the capabilities they’re powering for SATCOM in the future.

A phased array antenna is a group of antennas (often numbering in the hundreds or thousands) that work together to act as one larger antenna. They’re arranged in a two-dimensional or even three-dimensional grid or array, and can be simple dipoles or more complex designs, depending on their planned applications.

Phased array antennas work primarily through a process called beamforming, or by manipulating the phase and amplitude of the signal at the individual elements of the array to create a high-gain, directional beam. This beam can then be electronically steered in any direction without having to move the entire antenna.

Depending on the design, phased array antennas can also generate multiple beams simultaneously. This versatility allows for tracking multiple targets or establishing multiple communication channels.

Thanks to these capabilities, phased array antennas play a crucial role in supporting communications on moving vessels, such as ships, submarines, and aircraft, by providing stable and reliable connectivity even when the vessel is in motion.

Beamforming can also minimize interference that may be coming from a different direction than the signal of interest. This helps to prevent jamming or other interference.

The flexibility, scalability, and elevated security possible through phased array antennas has put them at the forefront of satellite communication (SATCOM) innovation for the future.

In every facet of our world—commercial, government, military, and more—organizations are processing and leveraging more data than ever in daily operations. They’re also operating on a faster, more global scale. This requires more agile and flexible communications and data-sharing capabilities, ones that can often only be delivered with the help of SATCOM.

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Moreover, there’s a unique crossover point happening between the commercial and government/military sectors as it relates specifically to satellites. Satellites were once used more exclusively by government and military organizations—for example, the Department of Defense (DOD) has had many purpose-built satellites to support individual and niche missions when no commercial alternative existed.

Now, with the growth and advancement of commercial satellite technology, a crossover point exists at which commercial organizations can support economies of scale and support government and military organizations in leveraging satellites more comprehensively across their operations.

At the same time, government and military resources contribute to the ability to explore new satellite innovations and capabilities that can be used across a diverse set of applications.

Phased array antennas are one of the technologies at the center of this virtuous cycle, delivering the wide-range usability and flexibility needed to drive cost efficiencies while delivering the cutting-edge satellite capabilities organizations now seek.

Phased Array Antennas: 5 key Advantages and Disadvantages

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This page explores the advantages and disadvantages of phased array antennas. It provides an overview of the benefits and drawbacks associated with this technology, along with basic concepts.

What is a Phased Array Antenna?

Introduction: Traditional antennas, like parabolic reflectors, are often bulky and difficult to move in azimuth or elevation. Their movement relies on servo motors and actuators, which can be slow. Phased array antennas offer an alternative by using electronic means to steer the beam in the desired direction.

To change the beam’s direction, the phase of the transmitting elements within the array is adjusted using a device called a phase shifter. Figure 1 illustrates a linear array composed of six antenna elements. Common antenna elements include dipoles, slots, and horns.

The beam’s angle relative to the antenna’s axis depends on:

• Operating wavelength of the signal
• Spacing between elements
• Phase shift between signals in the elements

The required number of antenna elements is determined by the desired directivity. Figure 2 shows the use of vertical dipoles in a phased array antenna, along with its radiation pattern. Horizontal dipoles can also be used.

Phased Array Antenna Arrangements

There are two primary arrangements for phased array antennas:

• Linear array: Elements are arranged in a line and fed from a common phase shifter.
• Planar array: Elements have their own phase shifters and are arranged in a matrix form.

Advantages of Phased Array Antennas

Here are the benefits of using phased array antennas:

1. Higher Directivity: Increasing the number of elements in the array leads to higher directivity.
2. Electronic Steering: Electronic steering eliminates the need for cumbersome mechanical steering using servo motors. This allows the beam to be moved in the desired direction in milliseconds.
3. Radar Applications: Useful for surveillance and tracking in radar systems.
4. Multiple Beams: Can emit multiple beams simultaneously for multifunction operations.
5. Two-Plane Steering: Planar array configurations allow beam steering in two planes. Digital beamforming is also possible.
6. Simple Arrangement (Linear Array): Linear arrays have a relatively simple element arrangement.

Disadvantages of Phased Array Antennas

Here are the drawbacks of using phased array antennas:

1. Limited Coverage: Coverage is limited to 120 degrees in both azimuth and elevation.
2. Lower Frequency Agility: Can be challenging to achieve high frequency agility.
3. Single-Plane Deflection (Linear Array): Linear arrays only allow ray deflection in a single plane.
4. Complex Planar Array: Planar array configurations are complex and require advanced electronic controls for the phase shifters.
5. High Cost: Phased array antennas can be expensive.

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