Application of the shared aperture antenna concept to radar front-ends: Advantages and limitations

The shared aperture antenna, an effective and versatile radar front-end design strategy based on deploying interleaved sub-arrays on a common aperture, is discussed. A number of instantiations of this concept, demonstrating multi-functionality and polarisation agility capabilities, is described in detail. Some limitations of this concept are singled out, and measures to counteract them are put forward.