Wideband multifunction array architectures using wavelength-scaled radiating elements

There has been a significant increase in developing multifunction wideband arrays to consolidate the large number of narrowband reflector antennas on US Navy ships. However, the use of conventional methods results in a need for an extremely large number of radiating elements to populate these arrays resulting in a complex and costly multifunction array. We propose architectures that use wavelength-scaled arrays in combination with asymmetrical distribution of arrays to reduce the number of radiating elements by more than a factor of two as well as ease bandwidth requirements. Additionally, a combination of rectangular and square apertures is used, where possible to help further reduce the number of simultaneous beams from any section of the full array. These proposed architectures are capable of providing eight different beams from a single wideband multifunction array.