Multi-beam antenna system with shaped reflector for generating flat beams

A side-fed dual reflector antenna system ( 10 ) of the present invention overcomes the size cost and complexity limitations associated with conventional single and multiple reflector antenna systems. The antenna system ( 10 ) includes a feed array ( 18 ) including separate feeds for generating separate respective antenna beams, a subreflector ( 20 ) for reflecting the separate respective antenna beams generated by the separate feeds of the feed array ( 18 ), and a reflector ( 22 ) having a shaped reflecting surface for reflecting the separate respective antenna beams received from the subreflector ( 20 ) toward a terrestrial target ( 16 ) to produce substantially contiguous flat beams, each of which provides substantially uniform coverage within a predetermined coverage area on the terrestrial target. The subreflector ( 20 ) and each of the separate feeds in the feed array ( 18 ) are arranged so that a center of each of the separate respective antenna beams illuminates a center of the reflector ( 22 ) subsequent to being reflected from the subreflector ( 20 ).