Broadband phased array antenna system with hybrid radiating elements

A broadband phased array antenna system, comprising:

• a support member;
• an antenna array mounted to said support member, said antenna array having a plurality of uniformly excited hybrid radiating elements arranged in a symmetric array on a substrate, wherein each of said hybrid radiating elements further comprises an RF-ground metallic layer, a probe-fed patch antenna having a metallic radiating patch and a conductive feed via between the metallic radiating patch and the RF-ground metallic layer, a metallic parasitic patch separated from the metallic radiating patch by a slot, and a plurality of shorting pins, one of said shorting pins creating a short-circuit between the metallic parasitic patch and the RF-ground metallic layer, the remaining shorting pins surrounding said conductive feed and creating a short-circuit between the metallic radiating patch and the RF-ground metallic layer;
• a baseband controller mounted to said support member;
• a radio controller mounted to said support member for modulating and demodulating signals between the baseband controller and antenna array;
• and
• a communications interface for removably connecting and disconnecting the antenna system, whereby in response to an RF excitation signal being applied to the conductive feed via first and second strongly coupled resonant modes are generated, said first resonant mode being located at a distal end of the probe-fed patch antenna and said second resonant mode being located in the slot between the metallic parasitic patch and the metallic radiating patch.