Modular multibeam radio frequency array antenna system

A radio frequency antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array, such array comprising a pair of subarrays of antenna elements coupled to a pair of electromagnetic lenses. Each lens includes a plurality of array ports, the plurality of array ports of the first lens being coupled to the antenna elements of a first one of the pair of subarrays, and the plurality of array ports of the second lens being coupled to the antenna elements of a second one of the pair of subarrays. The first lens further comprises a first set of beam ports, and the second lens further comprises a second set of beam ports, the first and second sets of beam ports being arranged to form corresponding first and second sets of interleaved beams of radio frequency energy. The antenna array combines the interleaved first and second sets of beams to form a plurality of beams of radio frequency energy, each one of the plurality of beams being a composite beam of adjacent beams of the interleaved first and second sets of beams. With such arrangement, a set of 2N-1 composite beams may be formed with only N beam ports on each lens. Further, the high-frequency crossovers between adjacent composite beams may be maintained substantially at -3 dB, thereby providing substantially uniform coverage over the scan sector of the antenna system. Also, since 2N-1 composite beams are formed from lenses having only N beam ports, the switching complexity between a transmitter or receiver and each lens is reduced.